Screening toxicity study in young carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) on feed amended with fumonisin B1

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is one of several mycotoxins produced by Fusarium moniliforme, a major fungal pathogen of corn and widely spread throughout the world. FB1 produces a wide range of biological effects, some of which are specific for particular organs or species and some are common to all investigated animals. In this study we have evaluated subchronic toxicosis features in young carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) exposed to 0.5 and 5.0 mg FB1 kg(-1) body weight for 42 days through nutritionally balanced diet. During the trial we observed loss of body weight in both treated groups, together with higher incidence of infective bacterial dermatological lesions erythrodermatitis cyprini (Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. nova) in the group treated with the higher FB1 dose. Several hematological parameters (erythrocyte count, platelet count) and serum chemical concentrations (creatinin, total bilirubin) and activities (aspartate aminotransferase, AST and alanine aminotransferase, ALT) were greater in the fumonisin treated groups than in the control group. Our results indicate that long-term dietary exposure to 0.5 and 5.0 mg FB1 kg(-1) body weight is not lethal to young carp, but can produce adverse physiological effects. These findings also suggest that primary target organs of FB1 in the carp are kidney and liver, as it has already been observed in other animal species tested. Specifically changed red blood cell- parameters reveal that FB1 probably causes erythrocyte membrane defect or interferes with carp's respiratory process.