Abstract
Deoxynivalenol (DON) frequently contaminates animal feed, including fish feed used in aquaculture. This study intends to further investigate the effects of DON on carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) at concentrations representative for commercial fish feeds. Experimental feeding with 352, 619 or 953 μg DON kg−1 feed resulted in unaltered growth performance of fish during six weeks of experimentation, but increased lipid peroxidation was observed in liver, head kidney and spleen after feeding of fish with the highest DON concentration. These effects of DON were mostly reversible by two weeks of feeding the uncontaminated control diet. Histopathological scoring revealed increased liver damage in DON-treated fish, which persisted even after the recovery phase. At the highest DON concentration, significantly more fat, and consequently, increased energy content, was found in whole fish body homogenates. This suggests that DON affects nutrient metabolism in carp. Changes of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in kidneys and muscle and high lactate levels in serum indicate an effect of DON on anaerobic metabolism. Serum albumin was reduced by feeding the medium and a high dosage of DON, probably due to the ribotoxic action of DON. Thus, the present study provides evidence of the effects of DON on liver function and metabolism.
Highlights
Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a trichothecene mycotoxin that is commonly known to be produced by Fusarium fungi, and fungal species, such as Myrothecium, Cephalosporium, Verticimonosporium and Stachybotrys [1]
The inclusion of ingredients has been chosen to meet the nutritional requirements of carp [19]
This study reported an influence of the mycotoxin, sterigmatocystin, on ascorbate levels in the white musculature of carp, which was not observed after DON feeding of carp in the present study
Summary
Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a trichothecene mycotoxin that is commonly known to be produced by Fusarium fungi, and fungal species, such as Myrothecium, Cephalosporium, Verticimonosporium and Stachybotrys [1]. A recommended guidance value for DON in compound feed stuff of 5 mg kg−1 DON was established by the European Commission (2006/576/EC) [5]. Exposure to DON resulted in the reduction of growth performance in salmonids [7,8] These investigations on salmonids showed that histopathological changes and lesions in the liver of fish, including the altered appearance of hepatocytes, subcapsular edema and fat accumulation, occurred upon feeding with DON-contaminated diets at concentrations of. The effects of DON on the immune system of fish have only been shown for carp at even lower DON concentrations of 352 to 953 μg DON kg−1 feed [17]. The aim of the present study was the evaluation of various DON feed dosages on the growth performance and health status of juvenile carp. The present study intended to investigate the effects of DON on liver condition and metabolism more closely
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