The influence of dietary supplementation with the leucine metabolite β-hydroxy-βmethylbutyrate (HMB) on the chemotaxis, phagocytosis and respiratory burst of peripheral blood granulocytes and monocytes in calves

A healthy immune system plays a particularly important role in newborns, including in calves that are far more susceptible to infections (viral, bacterial and other) than adult individuals. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the influence of HMB on the chemotactic activity (MIGRATEST® kit), phagocytic activity (PHAGOTEST® kit) and oxidative burst (BURSTTEST® kit) of monocytes and granulocytes in the peripheral blood of calves by flow cytometry.