Oral administration of bovine lactoferrin for treatment of intractable stomatitis in feline immunodeficiency virus (FlV)-positive and FIV-negative cats

Abstract

Abstract Objective To study the effects of oral administration of bovine lactoferrin (LF) on intractable stomatitis in feline immunodeficiency virus (FlV)-positive and FIV-negative cats, and phagocytosis of neutrophils in healthy and ill cats, simultaneously. Animals 7 ill cats with diagnosis of intractable stomatitis (4 FIV positive and 3 FIV negative) and 7 healthy, FIV-negative cats. Procedure LF (40 mg/kg of body weight) was applied topically to the oral mucosa of cats with intractable stomatitis daily for 14 days and improvement of clinical signs of disease (pain-related response, salivation, appetite, and oral inflammation), expressed by scoring from 1 to 4, were evaluated. Assay of neutrophil phagocytosis was examined before and 2 weeks after starting LF treatment, using nonopsonized hydrophilic polymer particles (2 μm). Results Oral administration of LF improved intractable stomatitis in all 4 respects. Phagocytic activity of neutro-phils increased after LF treatment. This effect was observed in healthy and ill (FIV positive and FIV negative) cats. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance Oral administration of LF improved intractable stomatitis and concurrently enhanced the host defense system. Topical application of LF to oral mucous membrane is useful as a treatment for intractable stomatitis even in FIV-positive cats. (Am J Vet Res 1996;57:1443-1446)