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Effect of bovine lactoferrin on the immune responses of captive bottlenosed dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) being transported over long distances

¹ Department of Advanced Clinical Medicine, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-1 Gakuencho, Sakai-shi, Osaka 599-8531, Japan
² Ask Japan, 1F Nagashima Building, 1-5-21 Houjoucho, Nishi-ku, Sakai-shi, Osaka 593-8302, Japan
³ Nutritional Science Laboratory, Morinaga Milk Industry, 5-1-83 Higashihara, Zama-shi, Kanagawa 228-8583, Japan

Correspondence: Correspondence to Dr Ohashi

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.