Effect of Biogen^® and Myco-Ad^® on the Growth Performance of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) Fed a Mycotoxin Contaminated Aquafeed

A commercial probiotic (Biogen^®) was tested against a commercial mycotoxin binder (Myco-Ad^®) for their effects on survival, growth, body composition and hematological picture of common carp (cyprinus carpio) fed a naturally contaminated aquafeed with aflatoxin and ochratoxin. A total number of 150 apparently healthy fingerlings common carp cyprinus carpio were divided into 5 triplicate groups. G-1 (control) received naturally ration found contaminated with aflatoxin (22 ppb) and ochratoxin (15 ppb). The other four groups supplemented with Biogen^® at a rate of 0.2 and 0.4% (G-2 and G-3) and Myco-Ad^® at a rate of 0.15 and 0.25% (G-4 and G-5). Results showed a significant reduction (p≤0.05) in aflatoxin recorded in aquafeeds of G-2 and G-3, while ochratoxin level showed a significant reduction in G-3. The four groups received Biogen^® and Myco-Ad^® showed a significant improve in the final weight, feed intake, FCR, survival rate, protein efficiency, body composition represented an increase in crude protein and reduction of ether extract and also improve hematological picture represented in erythrocyte counts, hematocrite and hemoglobin. It can be concluded that aflatoxin and ochratoxin contamination of fish diets can cause many drastic effects on performance parameters, feed utilization, hematological picture and body composition of common carp. Hence, there is always a demand for risk assessment regarding mycotoxins especially with the moving to plant protein sources in the aquafeeds. Commercial probiotic Biogen^® at a level of 0.4 and 0.2% has a good improvement effect among common carp fed mycotoxin contaminated aquafeed, followed by the commercial mycotoxin binder Myco-Ad^® at a level of 0.25 and 0.15%.

INTRODUCTION

The first documented incidences of aflatoxicosis affecting fish health occurred in the 1960s in trout hatcheries where, rainbow trout were fed a pelleted feed prepared with cottonseed meal contaminated with aflatoxins, developed liver tumors (Motalebi et al., 2008). Interest in the toxic effects on cultured warm-water fishes, such as tilapia and channel catfish, has increased as diets for these species are now being formulated to contain more plant and less animal ingredients. This increases the potential for development of aflatoxicosis in these species because, as noted earlier, plant ingredients have a higher potential than animal ingredients for contamination with aflatoxins (Royes and Yanong, 2008).

Mycotoxins cause a wide variety of adverse clinical signs among fishes depending on the nature and concentration of mycotoxins present, duration of exposure, the fish species, its age, nutritional and health status at the time of exposure to contaminated feed (Tuan et al., 2002). Jantrarotai and Lovell (1990) and Lovell (1992) showed that rainbow trout are extremely sensitive to AFB1, while channel catfish are much less responsive. Even the production systems of aquaculture found affect the tolerance levels for tilapia. In green water and flow-through systems, the presence of aflatoxins at 25 to 30 parts per billion (ppb) in the water decreased growth without any noticeable signs of mortality. However, in cage culture, concentrations of aflatoxins above 5 ppb in the water caused an increase in mortality rates (Royes and Yanong, 2008).

Mycotoxins have been shown to negatively affect production, growth and immune system function among different aquaculture species (Lee et al., 1978; Mahmoud et al., 1994; Bautista et al., 1994; Marzouk et al., 1994; Chavez-Sanchez et al., 1994; Abdelhamid et al., 1998; Bailey et al., 1998; Horvath, 1998; Aruke et al., 1999; Ottinger and Kaattari, 2000; Lim and Webster, 2001; Manning et al., 2003). Also, Carlson et al. (2001) mentioned that mycotoxins act synergistically so that the negative effects of two mycotoxins are worse than the effects of each individually.

Probiotics are pure cultures of one or more living microorganisms given in feed that proliferates in the host gastrointestinal (GI) tract. They ensure that the host maintains a beneficial microbial population in the GI tract (Linge, 2005). The research of probiotics for aquatic animals is increasing with the demand for environment-friendly aquaculture (Wang et al., 2008). Most probiotics have been undertaken by isolating and selecting strains from aquatic environment (Gatesoupe, 1999). Also, probiotics have found use in aquaculture as a means of disease control, supplementing or even in some cases replacing the use of antimicrobial compounds (Irianto and Austin, 2002; Sahu et al., 2008).

Many physical, chemical and biological techniques to neutralize mycotoxins have been developed and were reported in the literature throughout the years (Doyle et al., 1982; Samarajeewa et al., 1990). Binders have been used to neutralise the effects of mycotoxins by preventing their absorption from the animal’s digestive tract through bind toxins by adhesion or by electrostatic charge or cation exchange capacity. The effectiveness of smectite clays (HSCAS) as adsorbents of aflatoxin has been investigated and found successful for many farm animals over the past 20 years (Grim, 1962; Bluthgen and Schwertfeger, 2000; CAST, 2003; Dixon et al., 2008).

Therefore, the aim of this paper is to study the effect of feeding a naturally fish diets found contaminated with aflatoxin and ochratoxin on the performance and health status of common carp (cyrpinus carpio) fingerlings and a trial to control such effect through supplementation of Biogen^® (probiotic-immunostimulant) and Myco-Ad^® (smectite clay, HSCAS for mycotoxin binding) in this contaminated diet.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was carried out in the Central Laboratory of Agriculture Research, Abbassa, Sharkia governorate, Agricultural Research center, Ministry of Agriculture, Egypt during summer season of 2009.

Experimental fish and management: A total number of 150 apparently healthy fingerlings of common carp Cyprinus carpio obtained from the hatchery of Agriculture Research at Abbassa, Sharkia, Egypt. The fish maintained in glass aquaria (each of 70x50x40 cm) filled with dechlorinated tap water which continuously aerated. They divided into 5 triplicate groups (10 fingerlings/aquarium) and named G-1 for control group and from G-2 to G-5 for the other four experimental groups. They were acclimatized to the laboratory conditions for 2 weeks before starting the experiment. The water temperature was kept at 25±2°C throughout the experiment. About half of the water was changed daily in all the experimental aquaria. The average weight of fingerlings was 15 gram/fish at the start of the experiment. The fingerlings weighted every 2 weeks and fed the experimental diets at 3% of the total biomass along the period of the experiment (90 days). The feeding rate was adjusted according to the last fish weight.

Aquafeeds and feeding regimes: A naturally ration found contaminated with aflatoxin (22 ppb) and ochratoxin (15 ppb) divided into five experimental diets. The first part used as a control (G-1). The other four parts supplemented with Biogen^® (China-Way Corp; Taiwan) at a rate of 0.2% (G-2) and 0.4% (G-3) and Myco-Ad^® (Special Nutrients, Inc. USA) at a rate of 0.15% (G-4) and 0.25% (G-5). The five experimental diets formulated to contain about 30% cp and 4700 GE Kcal kg^-1 (Table 1). Each diet mechanically mixed, pressure pelleted by using meat mincer, air dried at room temperature, broken into small pieces, sieved to obtain appropriate size and stored at -5°C. The experimental fishes received the tested diets twice daily at 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Biogen^®: A synthetic probiotic immunostimulant product from China Way Corp; Taiwan. It contains allicin (garlic extract) not less than 0.247 micromil g^-1, Bacillus subtilis nato 6x107 cells g^-1, high-unit hydrolytic enzymes 3690 units g^-1 (proteolytic, lipolytic, amylolytic and cell separating enzymes), germanium (Ginseng extract 41.98 ppm) and organic selenium.

Myco-Ad^®: Commercial smectite clay composed of an activated, broad spectrum, hydrated, sodium/calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS) from Special Nutrients, Inc., USA specially formulated to adsorb major mycotoxins.

Determination of the levels of aflatoxins and ochratoxins in aquafeed samples: A stored aquafeed, suspected to be contaminated with mycotoxins, was subjected to determine the presence of aflatoxin and ochratoxin, after feed supplementation with Biogen and Myco-Ad, using immunoaffinity method which is applicable for mycotoxins that have fluorescence (Trucksess et al., 1991). Series-4 Fluorometer (VICAM) was used in this procedure. Reading of total aflatoxin or ochratoxin was obtained as part per billion (ppb = μg kg^-1).

Water quality: Water parameters (temperature, pH, salinity and dissolved oxygen) were measured twice daily (10 a.m. and 10 p.m.). Dissolved oxygen measured by oxygen meter as mg L^-1. (yellow sparing Instrument Co. model 57). Water samples were collected weekly from aquaria to detect total ammonia (ionized and non-ionized) and total hardness. Ammonia measured by Direct-Nesslerization method, while Total hardness measured by the EDTA-tetrimetric method (APHA, et al., 1989).

Table 1:	Composition and chemical analysis of the experimental aquafeeds

Performance parameters:

Hematological investigation: At the end of the experiment blood samples were collected from the fish caudal peduncle of the different groups. Adequate amounts of whole blood in small plastic vials containing heparin were used for the determination of:

Statistical analysis: Data listed, computed and analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and differences between means (Duncan, 1955). Multiple range test was done to determine differences between treatment (mean at significance level of (p<0.05). Standard errors were also estimated. All analyses were run on the computer using the SAS program.

RESULTS

The examined aquafeed samples as shown in Table 2, found contaminated with a mean value of 22 ppb for aflatoxin and 15 ppb for ochratoxin. A significant reduction (p<0.05) in aflatoxin found in G-2 and G-3 groups, while ochratoxin reduced in G-3. No significant reduction in both aflatoxin and ochratoxin recorded in G-4 and G-5 groups.

Table 2:	Mean values of mycotoxins detected in the examined aquafeed samples
a-c: Means in the same column with different superscripts are significantly (p≤0.05) different

Table 3:	Water quality parameters
a-c: Means in the same column with different superscripts are significantly (p≤0.05) different, Values are presented as Mean±SE

Table 4:	Growth performance and feed utilization of common carp fingerlings
a-d: Means in the same row with different superscripts are significantly (p≤0.05) different, Values are presented as Mean±SE

Table 5:	Body composition at the end of the experiment for common carp fingerlings
a-c: Means in the same column with different superscripts are significantly (p≤0.05) different, Values are presented as Mean±SE

Table 6:	Hematological parameters from common carp fingerlings
a-c: Means in the same column with different superscripts are significantly (p≤0.05) different, Values are presented as Mean±SE

Table 3 illustrated that dissolved oxygen, pH and temperature estimated in all aquaria showed nearly the same readings along the 90 days of the experiment. Salinity increased in all treated groups (from G-2 to G-5). Ammonia was highest in G-2 and 3 (1 mg L^-1), followed by 0.08 mg L^-1 in G-4 and 5. Also, total hardness showed significant increase in G-2 and 3 (about 440 mg L^-1), followed by G-4 and 5 (270 and 290 mg L^-1).

Results in Table 4, showed a significant improvement in the final weight of cultured fish in G-2 and G-3 (58.37 and 55.08 g fish^-1) and followed by G-5 and G-4 (53.55 and 51.7 g fish^-1). This improvement in final weight reflected on the total weight gain and specific growth rate which improved by the same supplements. A significant reduction in feed intake and consequently in FCR recorded in G-3 and G-4, followed by G-2 and G-5. Protein efficiency significantly improved in G-3 and G-5, Followed by G-4 and G-2. Survival rate improved in the 4 groups of supplemented feed in comparison with G-1. In Table 5, all treated groups (from G-2 to G-5) showed improvement in final body composition as the increase in crude protein from about 51% in control to the maximum value (56.78) in G-3. Ether extract reduced in fish bodies of treated groups.

Results in Table 6, showed improvement in erythrocyte counts, hematocrite and hemoglobin in all treated groups (from G-2 to G-5), white blood cells which rose as an immune response in control group, showed a significant reduction in all treated groups (from G-2 to G-5).

DISCUSSION

The natural contamination of aquafeeds with aflatoxin (22 ppb) and ochratoxin (15 ppb) indicate the demand for risk assessment regarding mycotoxins especially with the moving to plant protein sources in aquafeeds (Ali et al., 1998; Lim et al., 2001; Tacon, 2004).

In Egypt, feeds may expose to bad hygienic condition, during transportation and storage from wetting condition, insects infestation besides the long period of storage leading to the feed becoming mouldy and contaminated with mycotoxins.

Although, the little research studies on mycotoxins and mycotoxicoses in cultured fish and still absence of definite regulation for mycotoxin levels of aquafeeds (single or multi-mycotoxin contamination), there is studies on the effect of mycotoxins on aquaculture which ascertained the deleterious effect on fish health, immunity and consequently on their performance (Bailey et al., 1998; Aruke et al., 1999; Lim and Webster, 2001; Sahoo and Mukherjee, 2001; Tuan et al., 2002 ,2003; Abdelhamid et al., 2004a, b; 2002b, c; Salem, 2002; Manning et al., 2003).

The significant reduction of aflatoxin in G-2 and G-3 and also the reduction of ochratoxin in G-3, may be attributed to the presence of garlic extract (allicin) and the presence of Bacillus subtilis in component of Biogen^®, both are known that they have the characteristics of mould inhibition and mycotoxin detoxification (Azzouz and Bullerman, 1982; Yin and Cheng, 1998; Galvano et al., 2001; Petchkongkaew, 2007). This finding disagrees with Abdelhamid et al. (2002b) who found that dietary Biogen^® supplementation was not useful in AFB₁ detoxification.

The values of water parameters recorded in this study are within the acceptable ranges recommended for fish culture (APHA et al., 1989; Boyd and Tucker, 1993; Chapman, 2000; Abdelhamid, 2009). The total concentration of all ions in the water is its salinity. The increase in salinity in Biogen^® and Myco-Ad^® groups may be attributed to the content of feed additives from minerals and salts. The increase in ammonia in Biogen^® and Myco-Ad^® groups may be attributed to the increase in feed intake and fish growth rates, which consequently reflected on the increase of the nitrogenous wastes.

An acceptable range for free calcium in culture waters is 25-100 mg L^-1 or 63-250 mg L^-1 CaCO₃ hardness (Wurts, 1989). Calcium has an important role in the biological processes of fish. Fish can absorb calcium directly from the water or food. The increase in total hardness in Biogen^® and Myco-Ad^® groups may be attributed to the content of feed additives from minerals and salts.

Biogen^® at the recommended level of 0.4% and even the half of that level (0.2%) improved the performance parameters and feed utilization of the common carp fingerlings which are being stressed from feeding on mycotoxin contaminated aquafeed. The explanation of this finding may be due to that the commercial probiotic Biogen^® consists of Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis. These spore-forming bacteria which survive the pelletization process, can enhance the metabolism and energy of fish body cells, raise the efficiency of feed utilization and balance the secretion of various secretory glands. Moreover, it increases the vitality of cells by supplying oxygen to whole body, improves the immune responses, helps to excrete heavy metals, inhibits aflatoxin and maintains the normal endocrine system. Biogen^® has bactericidal effects and increases the palatability of feed, promotes the secretion of digestive fluids and stimulates the appetite (EL-Dakar et al., 2007; Diab et al., 2008; Eid and Mohamed, 2008; Mehrim, 2010).

Also, Myco-Ad^® comes after Biogen^® in the improvement of performance parameters and feed utilization of the cultured common carp fed mycotoxin contaminated ration. This result may be attributed to the composition of Myco-Ad^® which is hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicates (HSCAS) which capable to the alleviation of mycotoxicosis through adsorbtion capacity of mycotoxins (Barrer, 1989; Mumpton, 1999). Phillips et al. (1990) interpreted the binding mechanism as the formation of a complex by the β-carbonyl system of the aflatoxin with ‘uncoordinated edge site’aluminium ions. Thus, HSCAS can be used as an ‘inorganic sponge’ sequestering aflatoxins in the gastro-intestinal tract of farm animals. Regarding the applicability of aluminosilicates for the binding of mycotoxins, it can be concluded that they are very effective in preventing aflatoxicosis, but their efficacy against zearalenone, ochratoxin and trichothecenes is limited (Huwig et al., 2001). This finding disagrees with Abdelhamid et al. (2002a) who mentioned that mycotoxin adsorbents did not significantly reduce the aflatoxicity.

Survival rate in control group was lower (88%) compared with the other groups supplemented with Biogen^® and Myco-Ad^® (about 96 and 93%, respectively). The sensitivity to mycotoxins varies and the exact susceptibility of different fish species could not be determined up till now as described by Lovell (1992) who found that warm water fish such as channel catfish are reported to be less sensitive to aflatoxin than rainbow trout.

In practical terms, the improvement in performance and feed utilization parameters means that the use of probiotic, Biogen^® and the mycotoxin binder, Myco-Ad^® in case of feeding carp fish a mycotoxin contaminated ration can decrease the amount of feed necessary for animal growth which could result in reductions of production cost.

The improvement in body composition of carp fish in groups supplemented with Biogen^® as found by Khattab et al. (2004b) and also groups supplied with Myco-Ad^® in the ration contaminated with mycotoxin, is a significant evidence of the improvement in general health condition of the cultured fish. These positive effects in body composition of experimental fish may be due to the dietary supplementation with Biogen^® which caused the good growth performance, enhance the metabolism and energy of fish body cells and raise the efficiency of feeds (Mehrim, 2001). Also, these results are in close agreement with Srour (2004), EL-Haroun et al. (2006) and Mohamed et al. (2007) for tilapia and EL-Haroun (2007) for catfish. Moreover, Eid and Mohamed (2008) found that no statistical differences were observed in whole body moisture, crude protein, ether extract and ash of mono-sex O. niloticus fingerlings fed diets containing different levels of commercial feed additives (Biogen^® and Pronifer^®).

Regarding the results from G-4 and G-5, the improvement in body composition is a good indicator for the efficiency of Myco-Ad^® containing HSCAS against aflatoxin and ochratoxin to alleviate body from their effect. This finding agree with Zaki et al. (2008) who mentioned that dietary HSCAS clay act as an aflatoxin enterosorbant that tightly and selectively binds the toxin in the gastrointestinal tract of fish, so that diminishing the clinical signs of aflatoxicosis.

Improvement in erythrocyte count, hematocrite and hemoglobin in groups supplemented with Biogen^® agreed with the findings of Khattab et al. (2004a), EL-Gohary et al. (2005) and Mehrim (2010). White blood cells which raised as an immune response in control group showed a significant reduction in treated groups with Biogen^® and Myco-Ad^® and this finding disagree with Marzouk et al. (2008) who found increases in RBCs count, Hb value, PCV%, WBCs count and differential of leukocytic count in the two fish groups fed the diets supplemented with probiotics (dead Saccharomyces cerevisae yeast and both of live Bacillus subtilis and Saccharomyces cerevisae). On the other hand, Abdelhamid et al. (2002b) found that Biogen^® reduced blood hemoglobin of aflatoxicated O. niloticus fish.

CONCLUSION

From the foregoing results it could be concluded that aflatoxin and ochratoxin contamination of fish diets can cause many drastic effects on performance parameters, feed utilization, hematological picture and body composition of common carp. Hence, there is always a demand for risk assessment regarding mycotoxins especially with the moving to plant protein sources in the aquafeeds. Commercial probiotic Biogen^® at a level of 0.4 and 0.2% has a good improvement effect among common carp fed mycotoxin contaminated aquafeed, followed by the commercial mycotoxin binder Myco-Ad^® at a level of 0.25 and 0.15% which also can alleviate the effect of mycotoxin. The detoxification of aflatoxin and ochratoxin recorded after the addition of Biogen^® need more research to investigate this result deeply.