Assessment of general and acute toxicity of chitosan and diatomite-based feed additives In vivo

Chitosan and its derivatives are also used in pharmaceuticals as an excipient, a carrier of a drug or a therapeutic agent. The study was conducted on the basis of the Department of Biochemistry and Physiology of the St. Petersburg State University of Veterinary Medicine. A systematic review of the literature on toxicological studies of chitosan (in vitro and in vivo) was performed. The aim of this study was to test the safety of a feed additive containing chitosan using bioassay methods for general toxicity. An experimental sample of a feed additive was developed based on burnt diatomite (0.3-0.7 mm) and a concentrate of water-soluble chitosan. Toxicity during repeated administration in vivo. The general toxicity and acute toxicity of Danio rerio were determined in accordance with GOST 31674-2012 "Feed, compound feed, and feed raw materials. Methods for determining general toxicity." The infusoria were kept in a Lozin-Lozinsky medium prepared according to GOST 31674 -2012. The effect of the aqueous extract on the test system was evaluated in microaquaria using immunological plates. Survival control was performed using a light microscope at a magnification of 100x. Observations were made in both the control solution and the aqueous extract 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, and 3 hours after the start of the experiment. The biotesting was performed with double repetition for each sample. The survival rate of ciliates after 3 hours in an aqueous extract of the undiluted sample is 83%; the survival rate of ciliates after 3 hours in an aqueous extract of the diluted sample is 83%. The results of the studies showed that the presented sample of a feed additive containing chitosan and diatomite is non-toxic (harmless). The article also discusses possible mechanisms of the toxic effect of chitosan and recommendations for safe use in veterinary medicine.

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