Abstract
Respiratory tract infections, including upper respiratory diseases and bacterial and fungal pneumonia are common diseases in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).3 The Farglory Ocean Park is located on the east coast of Taiwan just at the windward side of northeast monsoon and due to the location, dust has become the primary pollutant of the dolphin habitat. In order to mitigate the risk of respiratory tract irritation and disease, we prescribed nebulization to keep the respiratory tract moist and clean.1
We developed two types of nebulization units, one rubber ring type and the other is a mask type. Both units were designed to adapt to each individual dolphin to insure that the each animal was comfortable with the procedure. The design concept is based on dolphin respiratory physiology. Both of the devices utilize a stored container which contains the aerosol substances prior to inhalation. This design was based on the tidal volume of dolphin which has been estimated at 10 liters and a flow rate of 70 liter/sec.5 The volume of the storage unit is over 10 liters and the tube which delivers the aerosol substances is sealed against the skin when the dolphin inhales. A jet nebulizer (Pari, Starnberg, Germany) is also utilized. This unit aids rapid refill of the storage container at a flow-rate of 4.4 liter/min and helps reduces treatment duration.
The rubber ring nebulizer unit was modified from a previous study.4 In this study we placed a rubber ring (inner diameter as 75 cm/29.5 x 15 cm/5.9H) on water surface and covered it with an acrylic sheet to create an air space of approximately 66 liters. Dolphins were conditioned to surface within the ring and inhale on command. The mask-type nebulization unit allows separation inhaled and exhaled air and utilizes a plunger and a plastic jar. The mask is connected to a Y-shaped PVC tube allowing the aerosol substances of the stored container to be inhaled from one pathway and exhaled from the other pathway. The volume of the water storage container contains 5 gallons and is composed of polycarbonate material.
Each of the Farglory dolphins have been trained to voluntarily accept this equipment and treatment procedure. To date, we have been unable to document any significant benefits derived from this treatment. However, we continue to examine the potential of using different medicines, as well as vary the frequency duration of treatments.
Previous studies have shown nebulizer therapy to be an effective treatment for pneumonia and to be more efficient than the intravenous therapy.2 Topical treatment for fungal diseases appear to be more effective than to treat systemically, and also help to prevent side effects associated with azole drugs. Future goals of this study are to explore the potential benefits of nebulizer therapy by increasing individual case studies and increasing treatment times.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Mr. Gu, director of Pari in Taiwan for providing the nebulizer units and Dr. Huang, respiratory therapist of Mennonite Christina Hospital, for his technical assistance. The authors also wish to thank the Farglory Ocean Park for funding of this project.
* Presenting author
Literature Cited
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