Growth performance, haematology and serum biochemistry of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) fingerlings fed graded levels of dietary fumonisin B1

Fingerlings of Clarias gariepinus were used to evaluate the effect of dietary fumonisin B 1 (FB 1 ), a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium verticillioides , on growth, haematological and serum biochemical parameters. The fingerlings were sorted, weighed and randomly stocked in 16 plastic tanks at the rate of 20 fingerlings per tank. Fusarium- cultured maize grains containing FB 1 were used to formulate three diets containing approximately 5.0, 10.0 and 15.0 mg FB 1 /kg, constituting diets 2, 3, and 4 respectively. These three diets, plus diet 1, which contained non- Fusarium cultured maize grains that served as the control, were used in a 6-week feeding trial. The final weight gains by the fingerlings were significantly ( P