Mitigating Aflatoxin B 1 -Induced Growth Impairment and Hepatic Stress in Nile Tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ): Comparative Efficacy of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Silicate-Based Detoxifiers

The objective of this study was to detect the effects of acute aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 ) exposure in Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) and the effectiveness of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and silicate in reducing these effects. Two hundred and forty Nile tilapia fingerlings (16 ± 0.5 g) were randomly assigned to four experimental groups, each with 60 fish and three replicates. Control basal diet (Diet 1) and three test diets were formulated, where Diet 2 was supplemented with 200 ppb AFB 1 . Diets 3 and 4 were intoxicated with AFB 1 (200 ppb) and supplemented with 0.5% S. cerevisiae or 0.5%, respectively. After 60 days, Diet 1 had considerably greater growth characteristics than the other groups ( p < 0.05). Diet 2 revealed a reduced ( p < 0.05) survival rate after 1 month of exposure. In addition, Diet 1 showed higher ( p < 0.05) total protein and albumin levels than Diets 3 and 4. AFB 1 residues were detected in the liver in fish-fed Diet 2, Diet 4, and Diet 3. Alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, and urea levels increased ( p < 0.05) in fish-fed Diet 2. The glutathione peroxidase, lysozyme, and catalase activity were decreased ( p < 0.05) in the fish-fed Diet 2. The malondialdehyde level was significantly higher in fish given Diet 2 ( p < 0.05) than in fish-fed Diets 3 and 4. Histopathological investigation of fish-fed Diet 2 revealed impaired liver and spleen; however, both treatments (Diets 3 and 4) successfully lowered inflammation and preserved liver and spleen integrities. In conclusion, AFB 1 impaired growth performance and posed a severe health risk to Nile tilapia. Furthermore, S. cerevisiae alleviated the contamination of AFB 1 effects more efficiently than silicate employed for toxin adsorption.