Dietary aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) reduces growth performance, impacting growth axis, metabolism, and tissue integrity in juvenile gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata)

Aflatoxicosis Dysregulates the Physiological Responses to Crowding Densities in the Marine Teleost Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata)

“…Prof. Francisco Javier Moyano’s Research group, from the University of Almería, Spain, developed the experimental aquafeeds by extrusion at the Experimental Feed Service. Fish were previously fed at 1.5% of total biomass for 85 consecutive days in three equal portions throughout daylight, as reported by Barany et al [ 50 ], before the experimental overcrowding challenge.…”

“…Conversely, the apparent lack of clinical signs of aflatoxicosis in fish compared to terrestrial livestock [ 32 ] often results in this problem being overlooked for farmed fish. The negative impact of AFB1 in farmed fish and shrimps impairs growth, induces tissue damage [ 49 , 50 ] but may also cause dysregulation of intestinal microbiota [ 51 ]. Moreover, some behavioral abnormalities have also been observed, which are commonly associated with tertiary stress responses [ 5 , 50 ].…”

“…The negative impact of AFB1 in farmed fish and shrimps impairs growth, induces tissue damage [ 49 , 50 ] but may also cause dysregulation of intestinal microbiota [ 51 ]. Moreover, some behavioral abnormalities have also been observed, which are commonly associated with tertiary stress responses [ 5 , 50 ]. The toxicity of AFB1 is not only dose-dependent but also depends on the duration of exposure, as well as animal species, sex, age, and metabolism [ 52 , 53 , 54 ].…”

“…In a previous study of this species, dietary AFB1 impaired growth, affecting carbohydrate and lipid energetic metabolites, accompanied by histopathological alterations in several tissues (liver, kidney, and spleen). Moreover, the expression of several endocrine players of HPI and growth axes were altered [ 50 ].…”

“…Therefore, in this study, we aimed to experimentally simulate a convergence of two different stressors in the gilthead seabream ( Sparus aurata ) throughout a previous chronic dietary AFB1 [ 50 ] followed by a challenge by stocking density (4 vs. 40 g L −1 ) [ 8 , 26 , 58 , 59 , 60 ]. Specifically, we compared the molecular and physiological responses to overcrowding stress in order to characterize specific dysregulations resulting from dietary aflatoxicosis.…”