article · Biological Trace Element Research
Contamination of aquafeed with aflatoxin B1 induces severe oxidative stress, liver damage, and immunosuppression in farmed fish, leaving them highly susceptible to bacterial infections. An eight-week dietary trial in Nile tilapia evaluated whether selenium nanoparticles could counteract these harmful effects. Fish fed an aflatoxin-contaminated diet showed elevated liver enzymes, increased DNA fragmentation, altered antioxidant enzyme gene expression, and weakened innate immune responses, which resulted in high mortality following exposure to Streptococcus agalactiae. Incorporating selenium nanoparticles at one milligram per kilogram of feed restored liver enzymes to normal levels, reduced markers of oxidative stress, and bolstered immune activity. Furthermore, dietary selenium nanoparticles provided substantial relative protection against Streptococcus agalactiae, indicating that this feed additive effectively counteracts aflatoxin toxicity and enhances disease resistance in stressed fish.
Aflatoxin contamination in aquaculture feeds poses a persistent challenge, harming fish health and weakening resistance to common aquatic pathogens. Demonstrating that selenium nanoparticles can neutralise toxin-induced liver damage and boost immune defences helps identify targeted dietary interventions. This approach can improve fish survival during disease outbreaks and support healthier stock management in fish farming environments exposed to contaminated feed.
This work points towards an application in formulated aquafeeds, specifically as an antioxidant and immune-boosting feed additive for tilapia producers. The research is at an applied, experimental feeding-trial stage, having shown efficacy in laboratory-scale challenge tests. Feed manufacturers and fish farming enterprises could explore nano-selenium formulations to protect stocks against feed-borne toxins and bacterial co-infections, though further development and field-scale safety validation remain necessary.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a plant-origin toxin that could induce oxidative stress in fish. The micromineral selenium (Se) possesses well-documented antioxidant properties. To assess the ameliorative effects of SeNPs (1 mg/kg fish feed) on oxidative stress induced by AFB1 (500 μg/kg fish feed), Nile tilapia (32.2±1.7 g body weight) were distributed randomly and even in six groups for 8-week feeding trial. Live enzymes, AST, ALT, and ALP levels were increased in the serum of fish fed AFB1-contaminated diet, and the addition of SeNPs could restore normal values compared to the control. The gene expression of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme and catalase (CAT) enzyme, and DNA fragmentation were significantly increased in response to aflatoxin exposure, while dietary SeNPs could mitigate the generated oxidative stress. The innate immunity, serum antibacterial activity (SAA), oxidative burst activity (OBA), phagocytic activities (PA and PI), and gene expression of cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1β, heat shock protein70 (Hsp), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α) revealed a status of immunosuppression in Nile tilapia fed on AFB1-contaminated diet. These findings showed that fish became more vulnerable to Streptococcus agalactiae infection with a high mortality rate while dietary SeNPs provided a high relative protection level (RPL). From the obtained findings, SeNPs could mitigate the oxidative stress induced by feeding the AFB1 diet and could boost the immunity of stressed Nile tilapia.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.1007/s12011-023-04031-1
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
