Jamal K Al-Faragi*
This study was undertaken to investigate the adverse effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on common carp (Cyprinus carpio L) and detoxifying these drastic effects by using prebiotics (β-glucan). A total of six treatments were used, including a control diet (G1) that had different combinations of AFB1 and/or 1% β-glucan. This included a diet with only β-glucan (G2), 4 mg AFB1 kg dw-1 diet with β-glucan (G3) or without (G5) and 6 mg AFB1 kg dw-1 diet with β-glucan (G4) or without (G6).These diets were offered 6 days a week at 3% daily of actual biomass in fiberglass aquaria in duplicate (2 aquaria treatment-1) for 60 days. Several endpoints at different levels of biological organisations were evaluated. These included DNA damage (using comet assay), haematological parameters, histopathological changes of the liver and kidney were also examined and growth performance. Results revealed significantly increase (P<0.05) of DNA damage in AFB1 groups (G5 and G6) compared to AFB1 plus β-glucan groups (G3 and G4). The haematological parameters showed significant differences between AFB1 groups (G5 and G6) and AFB1 plus β-glucan groups (G3 and G4). Histopathological changes revealed damage to liver and kidney tissues in AFB1 groups. Different levels of AFB1 significantly (P<0.05) affect the final average of fish weight in G5 and G6 compared to G3 and G4. Interestingly specific growth rate (%) of fish was lowered in AFB1 groups (G5 and G6) compared to AFB1 plus 1% β-glucan groups (G3 and G4). In conclusion, β-glucan, found to be a successful agent protected against the genotoxicity induced by AFB1 and effectively alleviate lesions of AFB1. Therefore, obtained results recommended adding 1% β-glucan as fish feed additives.