Detection of Toxicity of Aflatoxins, Sterigmatocystin, and Other Fungal Toxins by Lethal Action on Zebra Fish Larvae

Abstract

Abstract The effects of 13 fungal toxins (and one derivative) on the larvae of zebra fish, Brachydanio rerio (Hamilton-Buchanan), were investigated. The most toxic were sterigmatocystin, gliotoxin, and aflatoxin B1, which were lethal at concentrations of less than 1 µg/ml. Aflatoxins B2, G1, and G2, stemphone, diacetoxyscirpenol, ochratoxin A, aspertoxin, and patulin also showed toxicity to the larvae, while aflatoxin B1 hemiacetal, penicillic acid, and griseofulvin were non-toxic at the levels tested. Specific morphological effects were noted with sterigmatocystin, aflatoxins, and stemphone. The usefulness of zebra fish larvae as bioassay test organisms for fungal toxins is discussed.