title: In vivo effects of deoxynivalenol (DON) on innate immune responses of carp (Cyprinus carpio L.).
abstract: Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the most important members of Fusarium toxins since it often can be found in relevant concentrations in animal feeds. The effects of this group of toxins on fish are mostly unknown. The present study shows results from a feeding trial with carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) using three different concentrations of DON (352μgkg(-1), 619μgkg(-1), and 953μgkg(-1) final feed, respectively) which are comparable to levels found in commercial fish feeds. Effects on growth and mass of fish were not observed during this 6weeks lasting experiment. Only marginal DON concentrations were found in muscle and plasma samples. Blood parameters were not influenced although smaller erythrocytes occurred in fish treated with 352μgkg(-1) DON. Analysis of antioxidative enzymes in erythrocytes showed increased superoxid dismutase and catalase activities in fish fed the low-dose feed. Immunosuppressive effects of DON were confirmed whereby cytotoxic effects on immune cells only partly explained the impairment of innate immune responses. Exact polarization of the immune system into pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory responses due to DON exposure should be clarified in further experiments, especially since the current results raise concern about impaired immune function in fish raised in aquaculture.
authors.affiliation: University Basel, Man-Society-Environment, Department of Environmental Sciences, Vesalgasse 1, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: constanze.pietsch@unibas.ch.
authors.forename: Constanze
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pietsch
authors.affiliation: University Basel, Man-Society-Environment, Department of Environmental Sciences, Vesalgasse 1, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.affiliation: Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Bundesallee 50, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kersten
authors.affiliation: Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Bundesallee 50, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Valenta
authors.affiliation: Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Bundesallee 50, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dänicke
authors.affiliation: Gesellschaft für Marine Aquakultur (GMA) mbH, Hafentörn 3, D-25761 Büsum, Germany.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecophysiology and Aquaculture, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Mueggelseedamm 310, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kloas
authors.affiliation: University Basel, Man-Society-Environment, Department of Environmental Sciences, Vesalgasse 1, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Burkhardt-Holm
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture; D002347:Carps / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D005670:Fusarium / Q000737:chemistry; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014255:Trichothecenes / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014255:Trichothecenes; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; C007262:deoxynivalenol; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Aquaculture; Haematology; Immune system; Mycotoxin