Progress and Prospects in the Search for Anti-monogenean Compounds in Aquaculture

Abstract

Monogeneans are among the most important groups of parasites affecting cultured fish due to their rapid transmission and proliferation. This narrative review presents strategies for monogenean control and discusses the challenges of discovering new antiparasitic treatments. Although several chemical compounds and anthelmintics have demonstrated efficacy against these parasites, their use may be limited by toxicity, potential environmental impacts, and the risk of resistance development. Plant-derived compounds have also been evaluated as potential alternatives; however, available evidence indicates considerable variation in their efficacy and safety. Given the large number of compounds with potential antiparasitic activity and the costs associated with their experimental evaluation, there is growing interest in approaches that can improve the identification and selection of promising candidates. In this context, the potential of omics resources, bioinformatics, and computational approaches to identify therapeutic targets and prioritize candidate compounds before experimental testing is discussed. Recent studies on monogeneans demonstrate that these tools can facilitate the identification of compounds with antiparasitic activity and support a more efficient discovery of new treatments. These advances highlight the growing role of computational approaches in antiparasitic research and their potential contribution to more sustainable research strategies in aquaculture.