Effect of bovine lactoferrin on the immune responses of captive bottlenosed dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) being transported over long distances.
Bovine lactoferrin was administered orally, in feed, to six bottlenosed dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) before they were transported for approximately six hours; their stress responses were compared with those of five untreated dolphins. During the journey the dolphins had an increased plasma concentration of cortisol, and lymphopenia, eosinopenia and mild neutrophilia, indicating a stress response. The administration of lactoferrin did not affect the function of the dolphins' polymorphonuclear leucocytes, but affected their leucogram by maintaining the number of circulating eosinophils.
Noda
K
K
Department of Advanced Clinical Medicine, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-1 Gakuencho, Sakai-shi, Osaka 599-8531, Japan.
Aoki
M
M
Akiyoshi
H
H
Asaki
H
H
Ogata
T
T
Yamauchi
K
K
Shimada
T
T
Ohashi
F
F
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D050681:Bottle-Nosed Dolphin / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D018655:Lymphocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D011897:Random Allocation; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D014186:Transportation
D007781:Lactoferrin; D006854:Hydrocortisone