Effects of Aflatoxin B1-contaminated feeds on growth performance, blood parameters and liver enzymes of farmed Acipenser stellatus fingerlings

Aflatoxins are toxic chemicals that are produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus species of fungi. Aflatoxicosis caused by consumption of aflatoxin-contaminated feeds represents one of the serious diseases in most fish species. Due to the lack of information regarding the effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on farmed Acipenser stellatus, providing practical information for rearing of A.stellatus is imperative. A. stellatus fingerlings with the mean initial weight of 7.90± 0.12 g were kept in 50 Liter tanks with 10 fish per tank in a one way through water system with well water. Fish were adapted to the rearing conditions. The experimental diets were formulated to contain 1500, 1850, 2300, 2850 and 3500 ppb AFB1 kg-1 diet. Two control diets were also considered. Fish were fed each of the experimental diets in triplicate groups three times a day for 52 days. At the end of the experimental period, there were significant effects (p<0.05) on WG%, final biomass, condition factor (CF), specific growth rate (SGR) and survival rates with the increase in aflatoxin levels in diets. There were significant differences (p<0.05) in blood parameters including WBC, RBC, HB and PCV % and also liver enzymes such as AST, ALT and ALP with the increase in aflatoxin levels in diets. 50% of fingerlings perished after 52 days of feeding at the concentration of 3500 ppb AFB1 kg-1. The results of this study revealed that Acipenser stellatus was relatively resistant to aflatoxin B1.