Effects induced in vitro by Aflatoxin B1 on Vibrio fischeri and on primary cultures of Sparus aurata hepatocytes.

Among biotoxins, aflatoxins represent one of the most investigated, widespread and worrisome source of contamination of feed worldwide. Even if these compounds exert a substantial impact on the fish farming production, causing diseases with high mortality, as well as gradual decline of reared fish stock quality, metabolic and toxicological studies in marine aquacultured species are fragmented and restricted. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects induced in vitro by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on Vibrio fischeri, using the Microtox® system, and on Sparus aurata hepatocytes, in order to screen the toxicity range, and the boundary between acute and subacute toxicity, using different test systems in order to provide new information on the exposure risk of S. aurata to AFB1 contaminated feedstuffs.