XMulti-omics reveals zearalenone-induced hepato-intestinal injury and growth dysregulation in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

ABSTRACT: Zearalenone (ZEN), a prevalent Fusarium-derived mycotoxin in plant protein-based aquafeeds, poses severe threats to farmed aquatic animals. However, its toxic effects and underlying mechanisms on the commercially critical largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) remain largely uncharacterized. Here, juvenile M. salmoides were fed diets containing 0, 100, and 1000 μg/kg ZEN for 28 days. Growth performance, hepato-intestinal histopathology, barrier function, and antioxidant/biochemical parameters were systematically determined, combined with 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics to elucidate ZEN’s toxic mechanism. Dietary ZEN induced biphasic growth dysregulation: low-dose ZEN significantly promoted fish growth, while high-dose ZEN impaired feed efficiency, caused severe oxidative damage, histopathological lesions, and tight junction gene downregulation in the liver and intestine. ZEN exposure drastically disrupted intestinal microbial homeostasis, reduced core commensal bacteria, enriched potential pathogens, and disturbed host metabolic pathways related to nutrient transport, amino acid/lipid metabolism, and inflammatory response. This study revealed that ZEN induced growth dysregulation and hepato-intestinal injury in M. salmoides via disrupting gut microbial and metabolic homeostasis, providing novel insights into ZEN toxicology in carnivorous fish and theoretical support for mycotoxin control in aquaculture.

INSTRUMENT(S): Liquid Chromatography MS - negative - reverse-phase, Liquid Chromatography MS - positive - reverse-phase

PROVIDER: MTBLS14430 | MetaboLights | 2026-05-05

REPOSITORIES: MetaboLights