article · International Journal of Veterinary Science and Medicine
Ochratoxin A is a fungal toxin that contaminates animal feed and causes severe health issues in farmed fish. In an experimental ten-week feeding trial, Nile tilapia received feed contaminated with 500 parts per billion of ochratoxin A alongside various dietary additives to assess their protective effects. Contaminated feed alone led to sluggish swimming, reduced feeding, reduced growth, post-mortem damage to the liver, kidneys and spleen, and a drop in fish survivability to 53 percent. The toxin also caused significant changes in serum biochemistry, raising liver and kidney damage markers while lowering blood proteins. Supplementing the contaminated feed with dietary additives counteracted these adverse effects. The most effective treatment was a combination of 30 grams per kilogram of Nigella sativa and 0.1 grams per kilogram of Garlen Extra4, which almost completely alleviated tissue damage and outperformed a commercial mycotoxin binder.
Contamination of aquafeed by fungal toxins poses a serious threat to fish health and aquaculture productivity. Because completely preventing toxin formation in stored feed ingredients is often impossible, identifying affordable, natural feed additives that neutralize these toxins helps protect fish welfare, improve survival rates, and reduce economic losses for tilapia producers.
The findings are relevant to aquafeed manufacturers and fish farmers seeking natural additives to mitigate mycotoxin contamination in commercial tilapia diets. The work represents applied research tested in a ten-week feeding trial, demonstrating that combining Nigella sativa with Garlen Extra4 outperforms a standard commercial binder. Moving towards commercial adoption would require further validation on feed manufacturing compatibility, cost effectiveness at scale, and regulatory approval.
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Ochratoxin A (OTA) formation prevention is not usually available so counteracting strategies are urgent. This study investigated the toxic effects of OTA on Nile tilapia with trials to neutralize these effects by using some feed additives. Supplements used as one percent (Garlen Extra4, <i>Nigella sativa</i>, Garlen Extra4 plus <i>Nigella sativa</i> and a commercial mycotoxins binder, Fero Bind Pro) were added to 500 ppb/kg OTA-contaminated diet. Fish were fed at 3% body weight per day for 10 weeks. The clinical signs recorded in OTA - intoxicated positive control group were sluggish swimming and off food before death with reduction in survivability (53%) and growth performance. Several post-mortem lesions were in liver, kidneys and spleen. Serum levels of ALT, AST, creatinine and urea were significantly increased with reduction in total protein, albumin and globulin in ochratoxicated fish group compared to the negative control group. Concerning the pathological changes that have been noticed in ochratoxin treated fish were almost completely alleviated in examined tissues of fish that were fed on diet with Garlen Extra4 plus <i>Nigella sativa</i> or <i>Nigella sativa</i> and partially in fish that were fed on diet with Garlen Extra4 or Fero Bind Pro, respectively. Best detoxifying results were obtained by using 30 g/kg <i>Nigella sativa</i> plus 0.1 g/kg Garlen Extra4 followed by <i>Nigella sativa</i>, Garlen Extra4 then Fero Bind Pro as a commercial Mycotoxins binder. It could be concluded that inclusions of 30 g/kg <i>Nigella sativa</i> plus 0.1 g/kg Garlen Extra4 in <i>Oreochromis niloticus</i> (<i>O. niloticus</i>) diets could partially reduce OTA toxic effects.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.ijvsm.2018.09.004
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