| Summary: | In the present study an 8-week feeding trial was conducted on sex-reversed red tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus x O. mossambicus) to assess the effects of diets containing various levels (i.e. 0, 50, 100, 500, 1,000 and 2,500 ppb) of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on growth performance, blood parameters and histopathology of fish. Results showed that experimental fish fed AFB1 with 2,500 ppb showed significant reduced weight gain and hepatosomatic index. However, feed supplemented with AFB1 caused no effect on survival rate of the fish in each group. Feeding high level of AFB1 (1,000 and 2,500 ppb) also affected some blood parameters i.e. hemoglobin and plasma protein. Some histopathological changes (i.e. cloudy swelling, inflammation and cell necrosis) were observed in liver and pancreas of fish fed AFB1 with 1,000 and 2,500 ppb. The severity of symptoms was related with concentration of AFB1. This indicated that AFB1 may impair the functioning of fish hepatocytes. However, no residue of AFB1 was detected in fish tissues at completion of the feeding period. It can be concluded that fish feeds occasionally contaminated with AFB1 directly affected fish health but may have no negative impact on fish consumers.
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