Acute toxicity of ochratoxin-A in marine water-reared sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.)

The toxic effects of ochratoxin-A (OTA) on sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax L., have not been previously documented. A flow-through bioassay test system was conducted in two series and a total 180 of adult marine-reared sea bass was used to estimate the acute oral 96 h median lethal concentration (LC50) value and behavioral changes of OTA. The data obtained were statistically evaluated using Finney’s Probit Analysis Method developed by EPA. The 96 h LC50 value for adult D. labrax was found to be 277 μg kg−1 bwt with 95% confidence limits of 244–311 μg kg−1 bwt. This value was calculated to be 285 μg kg−1 bwt with Behrens–Karber’s method. The two methods were relatively comparable. The acute dietary 96 h LC50 of OTA is 9.23 mg kg−1 diet. Additionally, the behavioral changes of sea bass were primarily observed as nervous and respiratory manifestations. We concluded that sea bass is a species highly sensitive to OTA making them a useful experimental model for aquatic mycotoxigenic problems.