Effects of Dietary Mycotoxins Produced by the Mold Fusarium moniliforme on Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus1

Channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus (initial weight: 6.1 g/fish) were fed eight diets containing the mold Fusarium moniliforme-cultured corn supplying 0.7, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, or 240 mg of the mycotoxin, fumonisin B₁ (FB₁)/kg diet under laboratory conditions for 12 wk. Fish fed diets containing FB₁ levels of 40 mg/kg and above showed reduced growth, feed consumption, and feed efficiency, but fish fed FB₁ concentrations of 20 mg/kg and below did not. The minimum level of FB₁ that depressed growth appeared to be between 20 and 40 mg/kg. Hematocrit was significantly lower for fish fed diets containing 80 and 240 mg FB,/kg than for fish fed diets containing lower levels of FB₁. Fish fed diets containing 40 mg FB₁kg and above had increased liver glycogen, increased vacuolation in nerve fibers, and perivascular lymphohistiocytic investment in the brain compared to fish fed diets containing lower levels of fumonisins. Results from this study indicate that FB₁ levels below 20 mg/kg diet are not a problem in commercial catfish feeds. However, it is prudent to screen for fumonisins in feed ingredients.