Effects of dietary exposure to aflatoxins on some plasma biochemical indices of common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Aflatoxins are a group of secondary fungal metabolites that occur widely as natural contaminants of many feeds under high humidity and temperature, and are potentially dangerous to fish. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the effects of aflatoxins on some plasma biochemical indices, as clinical biomarkers, in common carp, Cyprinus carpio. Fish were fed diets contaminated with 0 (control), 0.5, 0.7 and 1.4 mg aflatoxins per kg feed for 3 weeks. No significant changes (p>0.05) were observed in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity in plasma of fish. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, total protein and globulin levels in fish fed aflatoxins showed a significant (p<0.05) decrease; however, plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities, glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride and creatinine levels were significantly higher (p< 0.05) than in the control group. The results showed that administration of 0.70 and 1.40 mg kg(-1) of aflatoxins in fish significantly (p<0.05) increased albumin levels. The results of this study show that diets containing certain concentrations of aflatoxins (0.5, 0.7 and 1.4 mg kg(-1) feed) caused serious toxic effects, including changes in plasma biochemical indices.