Analysis of the expression of metabolism-related genes and histopathology of the hepatopancreas of white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei fed with aflatoxin B1

Aflatoxins are produced in aquaculture feed by the fungi Aspergillus flavus or Aspergillus parasiticus. Aflatoxins can cause severe health problems in shrimp, and thus reduce the yield and profitability of shrimp cultures. We sought to understand the interaction between shrimp metabolism and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) by analyzing the expression of Litopenaeus vannamei genes related to metabolism, and by analyzing histological alterations of the hepatopancreas, after shrimp were fed with AFB1. After being exposed to 15 ppm AFB1 for 12 d, shrimp exhibited increased mortality and severe histological damage to the hepatopancreas. Metabolism-related genes whose expression is affected by AFB1 are involved in metabolic functions, including the metabolism of pyrimidine, purine, mannose, arginine, proline, glycine, serine, galactose, sphingolipids, valine, leucine and isoleucine, and fatty acids. Our data contribute to our current understanding of how to control AFB1 toxicity through metabolic regulation.