Additive potentials of Zingiber officinale on the aflatoxin secreted in wastemould feed fed to Clarias gariepinus (burchell, 1822)

The growth and pathological effect of aflatoxin in waste-mould feeds fed to juvenile Clarias gariepinus and the additive nature of Zingiber officinale was studied. Clarias gariepinus juveniles (58.19±1.8 g) were distributed at the rate of 10 per happa net in earthen ponds. There were 5 Treatments with 3 replicates – control diet TRT 1 (Good feed, without mould), TRT 2 (Mould feed only), TRT 3 (60 g of Z. officinale + 1 kg of mould feed), TRT 4 (30 g of Z. officinale + 1 kg of mould feed), and TRT5 (10 g of Z. officinale + 1 kg of mould feed). The fish were fed to satiation at 5% body weight twice per day for 8 weeks (56 days) and the fish growth parameters measured. There was significant increase (P<0.05) in mean weight gain of TRT 1, TRT 3, and TRT 4 compare to TRT 2 and TRT 5. The experimental fish at TRT1, TRT 3, TRT 4 and TRT 5 were significantly different (P<0.05) compared to TRT 2 in weight gain, protein efficiency ratio (PER), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and specific growth rate (SGR). The gills and liver of the control group (TRT1) of fish appeared with single layer of epithelial cells covering the secondary lamellae and uniform distribution of the hepatocytes respectively. In the TRT 2 and TRT 5, there was haemorrhage of the capillaries in the interlamellar space of the gills. Kidney of the fish in the TRT 1, TRT 3 and TRT 4 had normal glomeruli which are not the same with the TRT 2 and TRT 5. These findings showed that Z. officinale has the capacity to suppress the toxic effects of the aflatoxin (secondary metabolites) secreted by the mould feeds on the growth and vital organs of C. gariepinus. © 2013 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Aflatoxin, Clarias gariepinus, mould feed, Zingiber officinale, treatments