Effects of T-2 toxin on digestive enzyme activity, intestinal histopathology and growth in shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

T-2 toxin (T-2), a naturally occurring mycotoxin that often accumulates in aquatic animals via contaminated feed, is toxic to animals, including humans. In this study, six groups of shrimp (n = 30 shrimps/group) were given T-2 in feed at concentrations of 0–12.2 mg/kg for 20 days. T-2 accumulation, intestinal histopathology, digestive enzyme activities and subsequent effects on shrimp are reported. Compared to the control, T-2 significantly reduced weight gain, specific growth rate, and survival. The histopathology of shrimp intestine showed concentration-dependent degenerative and necrotic changes in response to dietary T-2. Progressive damage to the microstructures of shrimp intestine occurred with increasing dietary T-2 concentrations, with initial inflammation of the mucosal tissue at T-2 concentrations of 0.5 and 1.2 mg/kg, progressing to disappearance of intestinal villi and degeneration and necrosis of the submucosa at 12.2 mg/kg. Intestinal amylase and protease activities increased at low T-2 concentrations but showed significant inhibition at high concentrations; however, the opposite trend occurred for lipase activity. Collectively, these results indicate that digestive enzyme activities and mucosal structures are markedly affected by exposure to T-2, and these may have contributed to the lower survival rate of shrimp.