The protective effects of <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> on the growth performance, intestinal health, and antioxidative capacity of mullet (<i>Liza ramada</i>) fed diets contaminated with aflatoxin B₁

Abstract

Abstract Plant protein ingredients are increasingly included in mullet feeds and are expected to be contaminated with mycotoxins (AFB 1 ). Thus, this study investigated the protective role of Saccharomyces cerevisiae against oxidative stress and hepato-renal malfunction induced by AFB 1 contamination in mullets. Four diets were formulated, where the first was kept as the control diet, and the second was supplemented with S. cerevisiae at 5 × 10 6 cells/g. The third diet was supplied with AFB 1 at 1 mg/kg, and the fourth was supplemented with S. cerevisiae and AFB 1 . Mullet fed the control or both AFB 1 and S. cerevisiae (yeast/ AFB 1 ) had similar FBW, WG, SGR, and FCR (P˃0.05). Mullet treated with S. cerevisiae without AFB 1 contamination showed the highest FBW, WG, and SGR (P&lt;0.05), while fish in the AFB 1 group had lower FBW, WG, and SGR and higher FCR than fish in the control and yeast/ AFB 1 groups (P&lt;0.05). Using yeast with AFB 1 prevented pathological hazards and improved intestinal structure. Further, yeast combined with AFB 1 reduced the degenerative changes and enhanced the histological structure except for a mild inflammatory reaction around the bile duct. Fish in the control or yeast/ AFB 1 group had higher HB, PCV, RBCs, and WBCs than fish in the AFB 1 group (P&lt;0.05). Fish fed the control, or the yeast/ AFB 1 diets had similar total protein and albumin levels with higher values than fish contaminated with AFB 1 (P&lt;0.05). Fish fed the control and yeast/ AFB 1 diets had similar ALT, AST, urea, and creatinine levels (P˃0.05) and were lower than fish contaminated with AFB 1 . Additionally, fish fed the control and yeast/ AFB 1 diets had similar CAT, GPx, SOD, and MDA (P˃0.05) and were lower than fish contaminated with AFB 1 (P&lt;0.05). In conclusion, incorporating S. cerevisiae ameliorated the negative impacts of AFB 1 toxicity on mullets’ growth, hepato-renal function, and antioxidative capacity.