Effects of Aflatoxin B₁-Contaminated Feed on the Haematological Parameters of Juvenile <i>Clarias gariepinus</i> (Burchell, 1822)

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the possible effect of aflatoxin B₁ on juvenile Clarias gariepinus by incorporating various concentrations (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100μl/kg) of aflatoxin into their diets for a period of 12 weeks. The effect on the catfish was investigated by the use of standard methods of hematological and biochemical parameters analyses of the blood at the 6th and 12th week of feeding. The experiments were conducted in transparent glass aquaria with three replicates per treatment. At the end of the 6th and 12th week respectively, representative samples were randomly taken from each treatment replicate and blood samples were drawn from their caudal vein into ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA) vial for the analyses. The physico-chemical parameters monitored were found to be within the tolerance range of the culture fish. At end of the experiments at week 6 and 12 respectively, the packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC), total protein, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), bilirubin, creatinine and uric acid were found to be significantly different (P<0.05). The study revealed that toxicosis and severity of aflatoxin B₁ on the fish were dependent on the exposure duration, irrespective of the degree of contamination.

Keywords: Aflatoxin B_1, diets, blood characteristics, biochemistry, Clarias gariepinus

Journal of Aquatic Sciences 28 (1): 69-81 (2013)