Impacts of Aflatoxin B1 on cultivated Palaemonid shrimps

Abstract

The study investigated oxidative stress induced by Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in selected palaemonid shrimps. The shrimps were fed with Aflatoxin B1 of 0, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 40 μg/kg in mixtures of shrimp feed. The impact s of the concentrations on the growth rate of the shrimps and the induced Oxidative stress were assessed. Growth rate was estimated using standard growth rate, mean weight gain, feed conversion rate and survival rate; while oxidative stress was estimated using levels of Superoxide dismutase (SOD). Generally, AFB 1 of 40 μg/kg bw highly impacted the growth of all species, followed by 20 μg/kg bw. i.e. the shrimps in the treatment elicited significantly reduced standard growth rate and mean weight gain. Elevated concentrations of SOD detected in all shrimp species at AFB1 concentration of 20 μg/kg bw, particularly 40 μg/kg bw further supported the toxicity observations in the treatments. According to the profile of antioxidant activities and growth analysis, the trend of resilience to AFB 1 was: Macrobrachium vollenhovenii >Macrobrachium macrobrachion >Macrobrachium dux >Macrobrachium fellicinium > Palaemon maculatus > Nematopalaemon hastatus. This implies that M. vollenhovenii followed by M. macrobrachium have higher success potentials in small and middle scale shrimp farms vulnerable to aflatoxin exposure. Palaemonid shrimp farm feeds should be regularly screened to ensure the concentration of AFB1 does not exceed 10 μg/kg bw.