Histopathological effects of aflatoxin B1 and zearalenone on liver tissue of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the histological effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and zearalenone (ZEA) on the liver tissue of the rainbow trout. In this study, 540 rainbow trout 12.07±0.23 g (Mean±SD), as 9 experimental treatments with three replications were fed separately and simultaneously with diets containing different concentrations of AFB1 and ZEA over 60 days. In this regard, the concentrations of 50 and 100 ppb AFB1 and 300 and 600 ppb of ZEA were used. At the end of the experimental period, the liver tissue was sampled and pathological changes were qualitatively and semi-quantitatively examined. The toxin-induced histological damage included necrosis and deformation of hepatocytes. The severity of tissue lesions increased with increasing dietary levels of AFB1 and ZEA separately and simultaneously. The results showed that the severity of lesions was higher in fish receiving diets containing combinations of AFB1 and ZEA in comparison to other treatments.