Growth Performance and Serum Lipids Profile of <i>Clarias gariepinus</i> Catfish Following Experimental Dietary Exposure to Fumonisin B<sub>1</sub>

Abstract

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is produced by fungus of the genus Fusarium (Fusarium verticiloides and F. proliferatum), and occurs predominantly in maize. The consumption of feed contaminated with FB1 has been reported to cause deleterious effects in some fish species. This study was designed to determine the effects of dietary FB1 on growth and lipids profile of Clarias gariepinus. 450 juvenile catfish were stocked into 5 groups of tanks consisting of 3 tanks per group and fed one of five diets amended with FB1 (0.0 mg; 10.0 mg; 20.0 mg; 40.0 mg and 80.0 mg FB1/kg) for 56 days. At time point’s day 7, 14, 28 and 56, five fish were sampled from each tank weighted, length measured and bled for of lipids profile determinations. Results show that there was a significant reduction (P 1 compared with those fed control diet; also, there was a significant reduction (P 1 compared with the control. The specific growth rate and the feed conversion ratio at 56 days shows fish fed 0.0 mg FB1/kg had the highest specific growth rate (0.39 ± 0.14%/day) and the lowest feed conversion ratio (0.59 ± 0.01) whereas, fish fed 80.0 mg FB1/kg had the least specific growth rate (0.07% ± 0.01%/day) and the highest feed conversion ratio (1.95 ± 0.11). Dietary FB1 caused significant increases (P 1 at an inclusion rate ≥ 20 mg FB1/kg of diet produced significant reduction in weight gain and hyperlipidemia marked by hypercholesterolemia, increased blood high-density lipid cholesterol, increased blood low-density lipid cholesterol, elevated blood triglycerides and elevated sphinganine-sphingosine ratio.