article · Aquaculture Research
This research investigated the harmful effects of dietary titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) on Nile tilapia, a widely farmed fish. Fish were fed diets containing different sizes of TiO2 NPs (53, 31, and 13 nm) for four weeks. The study found that TiO2 NPs significantly increased inflammatory markers, such as tumour necrosis factor and interleukins, and antioxidant enzyme levels, indicating stress. It also led to a marked decrease in beneficial intestinal microbiota, including aeromonas, pseudomonas, and lactobacillus. When challenged with a common bacterial pathogen, fish fed smaller TiO2 NPs (13 nm) showed higher mortality rates. The findings conclude that dietary TiO2 NPs, particularly the 13 and 31 nm sizes, negatively alter the intestinal microbiota and compromise the health and immune status of Nile tilapia.
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles are emerging environmental contaminants found in many products, including food. This research is important because it shows how these nanoparticles can harm the health and immune system of Nile tilapia, a crucial aquaculture species. Understanding these impacts is vital for ensuring food safety and protecting aquatic ecosystems from pollution.
This research provides critical data for risk assessment and regulatory bodies concerning the safety of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in the environment and food chain. It could inform best practices in aquaculture to mitigate the negative impacts of these contaminants on fish health and production. The abstract does not indicate a direct commercialisation pathway for a new product or service.
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Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are used in numerous products, such as paints, pharmaceuticals, environmental sanitizing agents and even as a whitening food additive (E171). Residual TiO2 NPs are considered among the emerging contaminants of aquatic environments. However, the effect of such exposure on intestinal microbiota population, microbial disease resistance and the immune-related gene expression of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is largely obscure. Three groups of fish were nurtured on diets containing 1 mg/ml TiO2 NPs with three different sizes (53, 31 and 13 nm), beside the control group for four weeks before sampling fish tissues. Fish groups fed on TiO2NPs diets showed significantly increased higher levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin (IL-6) and IL-1β, along with insignificant changes in IL-8 and IL-10 compared with the control group. These changes indicate a strong inflammatory response. Treated fish groups showed a marked decrease in the count of some intestinal microbiota, aeromonas, pseudomonas and lactobacillus. Fish were challenged against A. hydrophila, and a higher mortality rate was observed in the group fed on smaller TiO2 NPs (13 nm). The levels of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were significantly increased in groups fed on TiO2 NPs, while metallothionein levels were only slightly changed. In conclusion, feeding fish with diets containing TiO2 NPs (13 and 31 nm) for 4 weeks alters the intestinal microbiota population and provides additional information on the toxic impacts of TiO2 NPs on the health and immune status of O. niloticus.
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DOI: 10.1111/are.15539
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