Histological alterations in the hepatopancreas of Penaeus monodon Fabricius (1798) given aflatoxin B₁-incorporated diets

Aflatoxin is a toxic contaminant produced by toxigenic fungi of the genus Aspergillus during the processing and storage of feeds and feed ingredients. Aflatoxins can cause abnormalities such as poor growth, physiological imbalances and histological changes that result in a reduction in the yield and profitability of shrimp culture. Histological changes in Penaeus monodon sub-adults fed different doses of aflatoxin B₁ were studied. The doses of aflatoxin B₁ administered in the diets were 50, 100, 150, 500, 1000 and 2000 ppb. At the end of the fourth and the eighth weeks of the experiment, the shrimps were sampled and the cephalothorax was observed for histological changes. Significant changes were observed in the different treatment groups at the fourth and eighth weeks. The severity of pathological changes was proportional to the increase in the concentration of aflatoxin fed to the shrimps. Histological changes in the hepatopancreas were loss of structure of the cells and tubules, nodule formation, cell elongation, desquamation, rounding of cells, fibrosis, necrosis, haemocytic infiltration and cellular inflammation.