Chapters authored
Aflatoxins: Their Toxic Effect on Poultry and Recent Advances in Their Treatment
About 25% of total agriculture products are contaminated with aflatoxins (AFs) and other mycotoxins in the world especially in Africa, Asia and Latin America, completely losing about 2–3% of food values and thus causing economic losses to farmers. The mycotoxin contaminations of food supply chain impact on human and animal health primarily, whereas production is the second major concern especially in developing countries. Aflatoxins (colorless to pale yellow colored crystals) are the most studied (>5000 research articles) group of mycotoxins. AFs impose major problems regarding health, growth, FCR (feed conversion ratio), etc. in the subtropical zone. In the agricultural commodities, the prevention of fungal contamination during plant growth, harvesting and storage seems to be the most effective and rational precautionary measures to avoid mycotoxins. Activated charcoal; aluminosilicates; polymers, such as polyvinyl pyrrolidones and cholestyramine; and yeast, yeast-based products, and humic acid have been studied extensively with promising but variable results. A live yeast, named Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae), has also been observed to lighten the adverse effects of aflatoxicosis in poultry. These beneficial effects were later attributed to glucomannan, being derived from the cell wall of S. cerevisiae.
Part of the book: Mycotoxins
Arsenic Toxicity in Fish: Sources and Impacts
Arsenic has become a major toxicological concern due to its rising concentrations in aquatic bodies. It is added to the water either by natural sources including weathering of rocks, sediments, volcanic eruptions and aquifers, or by anthropogenic sources including herbicides, wood preservatives, metal smelting, drugs, pesticides, burning of coal, agriculture runoff and petroleum refining processes among others. The untreated and uncontrolled discharge of arsenic by industries into the natural water bodies poses serious threat to aquatic fauna by deteriorating water quality and making it unsuitable for fishes. Fish is an important bioindicator of aquatic bodies and excessive arsenic concentration causes its bioaccumulation in fish organs and muscles. This deposited arsenic in the fish imposes serious damage to physiology, biochemical disorders such as poisoning of gills, livers, decrease fertility, tissue damage, lesions, and cell death. It also enters in the cell and produces reactive oxygen species which increases the level of stress which further concentrates the oxidative enzymes and cortisol levels in fish. The uncontrolled discharge of arsenic and its devastating impact on fish diversity is a major concern for aquaculture progress and economic stability. This, along with its other implications is the scope of this chapter.
Part of the book: Arsenic in the Environment