Acta Vet. Brno 2014, 83: 347-354
The effect of Leiber Beta-S (1,3-1,6-β-D-glucan) on the phagocytic activity and oxidative metabolism of peripheral blood granulocytes and monocytes in calves
The effect of the Leiber Beta-S (1,3-1,6-β-D-glucan) dietary supplement on the phagocytic activity (Phagotest) and oxidative metabolism (Phagoburst) of peripheral blood granulocytes and monocytes in calves was determined by flow cytometry. Fourteen animals were divided into two groups: a control group without dietary supplementation and an experimental group administered 50 mg/kg body weight/day of 1,3-1,6-β-D-glucan for 60 days. At the beginning of the experiment (day 0) and on days 15, 30 and 60, blood was sampled from the jugular vein to determine and compare immunological indicators. Leiber Beta-S significantly influenced (P ≤ 0.05, P ≤ 0.01, P ≤ 0.001) the percentages of phagocytic granulocytes (days 15 and 30) and monocytes (days 15, 30 and 60), and the percentage of bacteria engulfed by granulocytes (days 15 and 30) and monocytes (day 30). Leiber Beta-S increased the percentage of cells generating a respiratory burst in the population of granulocytes stimulated with fMLP (N-formyl-met-leu-phe) (day 15), PMA (4-phorbol-12-β-myristate-13-acetate) and Escherichia coli bacteria (days 15 and 30), and in the population of monocytes stimulated with fMLP (day 30), PMA (days 30 and 60) and E. coli (days 15, 30 and 60). The analyzed supplement increased mean fluorescence intensity in granulocytes stimulated with E. coli and fMLP (days 15 and 30) and PMA (days 30 and 60) as well as in monocytes stimulated with PMA, E. coli and fMLP (day 60). The findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of the effects of Leiber Beta-S on phagocytosis in calves, which have not been investigated to date.
