[Phagocytosis in calves and its dynamics after experimental treatment]

We evaluated the phagocytic capacity of blood neutrophils and monocytes in calves after nonspecific stimulations of the organisms by colloidal charcoal and concentrated blood derivative administered alone, or enriched by immunomodulator (levamizol). Each of the above-mentioned preparations could be characterized by a specific response of the organism with respect to the phagocytic capacity. After administration of colloidal charcoal, both the phagocytic activity (percent of phagocytizing cells) and the particle-ingesting ability, i.e. phagocytic index, which showed two-phase changes in relation to the administration, were simulated. An increase in the phagocytic index was retained until the end of observation (four weeks), but the phagocytic activity (percent of phagocytizing cells) dropped to the level before administration as soon as in 24 hours. The phagocytic activity was also positively stimulated by the concentrated blood derivative administered alone, and the particle-ingesting ability was not influenced very much. The concentrated blood derivative with immunomodulator could be characterized by a fast increase in the phagocytic activity, accompanied by a successive short-time rise of the phagocytic index. A joint feature of all three preparations was a simultaneous increase in the percent of potential phagocytes and in the values of phagocytic activity. In none of the cases was, however, the increase in phagocytic activity accompanied by a rise in the phagocytic index.