fumonisin-b1 and Fish-Diseases

Year-1 carp were fed ratios containing 100mg/kg and 10 mg/kg of added fumonisin B1 for 42 days. The experimental and control fish were examined clinically during the experiment and at the end all fish were necropsied and histological changes recorded. Blood vessels, liver, exocrine and endocrine pancreas, excretory and haematopoietic kidney, heart and brain were sensitive both to 100 and 10mg/kg of FB1 in the diet and the rodlet cell (RC) frequency was considerably increased in and around damaged tissues. Many damaged blood vessels contained stacks of RCs above the endothelium. Other changes subsequent to fumonisin exposure that have not been previously reported include scattered lesions in the exocrine and endocrine pancreas, and interrenal tissue, probably due to ischemia and/or increased endothelial permeability. Presented findings indicate the need for more intensive studies of fumonisin-induced toxicity in cultured fish.

Topics: Animals; Carcinogens, Environmental; Carps; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Fish Diseases; Fumonisins; Random Allocation; Toxicity Tests

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is one of several mycotoxins produced by Fusarium moniliforme, a major fungal pathogen of corn and widely spread throughout the world. FB1 produces a wide range of biological effects, some of which are specific for particular organs or species and some are common to all investigated animals. In this study we have evaluated subchronic toxicosis features in young carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) exposed to 0.5 and 5.0 mg FB1 kg(-1) body weight for 42 days through nutritionally balanced diet. During the trial we observed loss of body weight in both treated groups, together with higher incidence of infective bacterial dermatological lesions erythrodermatitis cyprini (Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. nova) in the group treated with the higher FB1 dose. Several hematological parameters (erythrocyte count, platelet count) and serum chemical concentrations (creatinin, total bilirubin) and activities (aspartate aminotransferase, AST and alanine aminotransferase, ALT) were greater in the fumonisin treated groups than in the control group. Our results indicate that long-term dietary exposure to 0.5 and 5.0 mg FB1 kg(-1) body weight is not lethal to young carp, but can produce adverse physiological effects. These findings also suggest that primary target organs of FB1 in the carp are kidney and liver, as it has already been observed in other animal species tested. Specifically changed red blood cell- parameters reveal that FB1 probably causes erythrocyte membrane defect or interferes with carp's respiratory process.

Topics: Alanine Transaminase; Animal Feed; Animals; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Body Weight; Carcinogens, Environmental; Carps; Creatinine; Erythrocyte Count; Fish Diseases; Fumonisins; Hematocrit; Hemoglobins; Leukocyte Count; Platelet Count; Random Allocation; Statistics, Nonparametric; Toxicity Tests