ARS | Publication request: The effect of Fusarium mycotoxins deoxynivalenol, Fumonisin, and Moniliformin from contaminated moldy grains on aquaculture fish

Submitted to: Toxin Reviews
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: December 15, 2011
Publication Date: February 1, 2012
Citation: Manning, B. B., andn Abbas, H. K. The effect of Fusarium mycotoxins deoxynivalenol, Fumonisin, and Moniliformin from contaminated moldy grains on aquaculture fish. Toxin Reviews. 31:1-5. 2012.

Interpretive Summary: There is increasing demand for corn production to be used as animal feed, especially for catfish. Corn is often contaminated with molds (fungi) called Fusarium species that are able to produce poisonous byproducts called mycotoxins. These are considered to be dangerous when eaten by animals or humans. There are three kinds of poisons produced. In this research, these three toxins were found in corn grains. When this moldy corn was mixed in catfish diet at high levels, there was not a negative impact. Therefore, moldy corn infested heavily with the Fusarium fungus that produce these toxic materials may be safely used by the catfish industries, thus reducing costs for aquaculture producers.

Technical Abstract: Fusarium spp. are fungi that invade agriculturally important grains such as corn and wheat, where they may produce mycotoxins that are harmful to the productivity and health of food animals such as swine, poultry, and aquacultural fish. Because corn and wheat are used for other industrial purposes such as ethanol and flour production, by-products of these processes are available to supplement or replace expensive grains in fish feed formulations. Consequently, grain by-products have come under scrutiny as possible sources of feed-borne Fusarium mycotoxins. Evaluation of the effects of Fusarium mycotoxins on productivity of fish used in aquaculture has been the subject of recent research.