Leukopenia induced by micafungin in a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus): a case report

Abstract

A bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) housed in the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium (PNPA) presented with symptomatic pneumonia caused by Aspergillus fumigatus. The dolphin was treated with micafungin. On days 2 and 11 after the first administration of micafungin, results from a physical examination and laboratory test indicated a decline of body temperature (BT) and leukopenia, with lowest BT, white blood cells (WBCs), and segmented neutrophils (SEGs) of 34.2°C, 600 cells/µl, and 67 cells/µl, respectively. BT, WBCs, and SEGs returned to normal range after administration of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of micafungin-induced decline of BT and leukopenia that was successfully treated with G-CSF in a bottlenose dolphin.