[Effect of selenium and vitamin E on white cells, serum concentration of several minerals and trace elements as well as immunologic parameters in calves].

Abstract

The investigations were done on 12 calves (age: 3 to 8 weeks). Six calves received (with an interval of two weeks) two intramuscular injections, each of which contained 5.75 mg selenium and 75 mg alpha-tokopherolacetate (Ursoselevit). Subsequently, they showed higher blood leukocyte counts (with less variation; p < 0.05), a greater phagocytosis index and more NBT-positive granulocytes than six untreated controls. Furthermore, their sera contained more carotenes, vitamin A and gamma-globulines than those of the controls. The other parameters considered within this trial (i.e. erythrocyte count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, serum contents of calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, copper, iron and zinc) did not show statistically valuable differences between the members of the two groups.