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UDC 597.551.2:615.9:577.175.1

Received: May 12, 2026

Revised: May 15, 2026

Published: May 29, 2026

This is an Open Access article under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license

 

T-2 toxin, a type A trichothecene produced by Fusarium species, is one of the most toxic and environmentally persistent mycotoxins found in aquaculture feed. Despite growing evidence of its immunotoxic and oxidative effects in fish, its impact on tissue-specific lipid and protein metabolism, and the interrelationships between these biochemical pathways, remains poorly understood. This study examined the impact of dietary exposure to T-2 toxin (0.25 mg/kg feed; 5 MPC) on total lipid, phospholipid and protein concentrations in the gills, liver and brain of common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Correlation and regression analyses were also performed to identify coordinated metabolic responses and potential toxicity biomarkers. Exposure to T-2 toxin for 14 days induced pronounced, tissue-specific alterations in biochemical composition. The gills exhibited the most severe metabolic disruption, characterised by significant decreases in total lipids (p = 0.010; Cohen’s d = 2.24) and total proteins (p < 0.001; Cohen’s d = 3.32), indicating severe impairment of energy metabolism and protein homeostasis. In contrast, the brain showed a significant increase in total lipid content (p = 0.008; Cohen’s d = 2.22), suggesting altered lipid distribution and potential neurotoxic effects. Meanwhile, the liver displayed moderate changes, with a significant reduction in protein concentration (p = 0.031), but relatively stable lipid profiles. Despite metabolic disturbances, phospholipid levels remained largely unchanged across tissues, indicating the preservation of structural membrane components. Correlation and regression analyses revealed strong lipid–protein coupling in the gills (r = 0.83; R² = 0.69), moderate associations in the brain, and weak or absent relationships in the liver. This highlights differences in the regulation of metabolic networks across tissues. The gills emerged as the most sensitive organ, reflecting tightly coordinated metabolic responses to T-2 exposure. The results demonstrate that the T-2 mycotoxin disrupts systemic energy metabolism and protein homeostasis in C. carpio in a tissue-specific manner. The most pronounced effects were observed in the branchial tissue, alongside distinct lipid accumulation in the neural tissue. These findings identify total lipids and proteins in the gills and brain as sensitive biomarkers of T-2-induced metabolic disturbance, and emphasise the importance of an integrative, multi-tissue approach in the study of mycotoxin toxicity. The study also emphasises that the disruption of coordinated metabolic networks is a key component of T-2 toxicity in fish.

 

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