Effects of aflatoxin B۱ on growth performance, health indices, phagocytic activity and histopathological alteration in Fenneropenaeus indicus

Mycotoxins contamination of feedstuff for aquatic animals is common in regions with humid tropical conditions. In this study Indian white shrimp, Fenneropenaeus indicus, (۱۱.۷۹ ± ۱.۷۶ g) were fed with diets containing ۰, ۲۰, ۵۰, ۱۰۰, ۲۰۰, ۴۰۰, ۸۰۰ and ۱۶۰۰ ppb levels of aflatoxin B۱ (AFLB۱) for ۸ weeks. Final weight, aflatoxin B۱ residue (۲-week intervals), Total Hemocyte Count (THC), Total Plasma Protein (TPP), Phagocytic Activity (PA), Survival rate (۴-week intervals) were determined. Histopathological alterations in hepatopancreas, midgut and muscle tissues were studied at the end of ۴ and ۸ weeks. Shrimps fed with the ۱۶۰۰, ۸۰۰ and ۴۰۰ ppb concentrations of AFLB۱ exhibited slow growth, and more reddish discoloration disseminated over the body at ۴th week. Growth parameters, survival rate and health indices (THC, TPP) of F. indicus, are affected by the different doses of AFLB۱ in diets. At the end of ۸th week, doses of AFLB۱ in the diets showed negative correlation to final weight, survival rate, THC and TPP (r = - ۰.۳۱۲, -۰.۶۰۳, -۰.۲۳۷ and - ۰.۶۴۹ at P<۰.۰۰۱, respectively). Moreover, significant histopathological alterations in the hepatopancreas, midgut and muscle tissues of exposed shrimps to different levels of AFLB۱ were observed and these alterations are obviously indicated by changes in the health indexes (THC and TPP).