PERFORMANCE OF CAT-FISH FED DIFFERENT DOSES OF AFLATOXIN IN THE DIET

Abstract

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a mycotoxin known to frequently contaminate poorly stored foods/feeds. This         study was carried out to investigate the performance of parameters of catfish fed 3 different doses of         aflatoxins earlier determined from fish feeds. Simulated toxicity test using AFB , (1000 µg/ml, 500µg/                                                                                        1 
        ml, 250µg/ml) in feeding juvenile cat fish was conducted for 56 days. Catfishes were divided into 4          treatments according to aflatoxin dose (A=control, B=250µg/ml, C=500µg/ml, D=1000µg/ml). At the          end   of   the   experiment,   body   weight   and   biochemical   parameters  were   evaluated. Results   revealed         that growth of aflatoxicosed fish was significantly different from control using analysis of variance and         Duncan Multiple Range Test at p< 0.05. Protein, cholesterol, bilirubin, electrolytes and liver enzymes         such as Aspartate transaminase (AST), Alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)         were   also   significantly   different from   the   control.   Histopathological   examination   of   liver   sections  re-         vealed severe liver damage. There was gross oedema of the hepatocytes with increased inflammatory         cells. This is the first report of simulated aflatoxin toxicity obtained from fish feeds sold in Nigeria. It is         clear from the results that legislation for the control of aflatoxins in animal feed is now over due be-         cause of its attendant economic loss and potential health hazard. Routine surveillance is needed.