Comparison of methods for the isolation of Salmonella from imported frog legs.

Four methods of sample preparation were compared for their relative efficiency in recovering Salmonella from imported frog legs. No significant difference (P greater than 0.10) was observed in the efficiency of submersion, blending, and stomaching methods, but rinsing recovered significantly fewer (P less than 0.01) Salmonella-positive frog legs than the other three methods. No significant difference (P less than 0.25) was observed in the number of positive frog legs recovered by selenite cystine or tetrathionate broth. Salmonella-Shigella agar, when streaked from either of these broths, gave significantly fewer (P less than 0.01) Salmonella-positive frog legs than brilliant green, bismuth sulfite, xylose lysine deoxycholate, and Hektoen-enteric agars. Use selective agars, resulted in detection of an additional 11 and 6 Salmonella-positive frog legs, respectively. A variety of serotypes, mostly uncommon, was recovered. One Salmonella serotype (6,14,24:r,i:e,n,z15), possessing a heretofore unreported antigenic formula, was isolated.     

Mucociliary clearance in chronic sinusitis: related human nasal clearance and in vitro bullfrog palate clearance

Nasal mucociliary clearance was measured in both healthy subjects and patients with chronic sinusitis using saccharin granule technique. Nasal mucociliary transit time (ST) was significantly slower in the patients with chronic sinusitis compared with that in controls (p less than 0.005). Nasal mucus collected from each nasal cavity was used for in vitro bullfrog palate clearance studies and compared to the in vivo nasal ST. Mucociliary clearance rate (MTR) on frog palate was 12.5 +/- 2.5 mm/min in the mucus from control subjects, 6.1 +/- 1.5 mm/min in the mucus from the patients. The difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.005). The MTR on frog palate in the patients whose nasal ST was within normal range was significantly slower than that in controls (p less than 0.005), but not significantly different from that in the patients whose nasal ST was over the normal range. These results suggest that the nasal mucous properties which decreased the mucociliary clearance on frog palate did not contribute to the mucociliary clearance of the patients who had a normal one. No significant correlation existed between MTR on frog palate and nasal ST in both control and chronic sinusitis. In chronic sinusitis patients, decelerated nasal ST was recovered significantly by normal saline nebulization compared with the value before the nebulization (p less than 0.01). None of the significant change of ST was observed in control before and after the nebulization.     

Use of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to characterize the heterogeneity and clonality of salmonella isolates obtained from the carcasses and feces of swine at slaughter

Salmonella enterica isolates were recovered from swine at a collaborating processing plant over a 2-month period in the spring of 2000. In the present study, molecular subtyping by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed on the 581 confirmed Salmonella isolates from the 84 Salmonella-positive samples obtained from the previous study. A total of 32 different PFGE pulsotypes were observed visually, and a BioNumerics software analysis clustered those pulsotypes into 12 PFGE groups. The B, F, and G groups predominated throughout the sampling period and were isolated from 39, 22, and 13% of the swine, respectively. In addition, multiple isolates were obtained from 67 of the 84 Salmonella-positive samples, and subtyping revealed multiple PFGE profiles in 35 of these 67 (62%) samples. Both carcass and fecal isolates of Salmonella were recovered from 13 swine, resulting in "matched" samples. Molecular typing of the 252 isolates recovered from the matched samples revealed that 7 (54%) of the 13 carcasses were contaminated with Salmonella pulsotypes that were not isolated from the feces of the same animal. Conversely, from 6 of the 13 (46%) matched animals, Salmonella clonal types were isolated from the feces that were not isolated from the carcass of the same animal. These data establish that each lot of swine introduces new contaminants into the plant environment and that swine feces from one animal can contaminate many carcasses. In addition, these results indicate that the examination of multiple Salmonella isolates from positive samples is necessary to determine the variety of potential contaminants of swine carcasses during slaughter and processing.     

Comparison of methods for the recovery and detection of low levels of injured Salmonella in ice cream and milk powder

This study compared the ability of four rapid methods and a standard cultural method to detect low levels of heat-injured cells of Salmonella typhimurium in ice cream and skimmed milk powder. The detection of Salmonella in samples contaminated with low levels (< 10 cfu 25 g-1) was significantly greater with the novel broth method than with the other methods (P 10 cfu 25 g-1, there was no significant difference between the methods except for the novel broth method and a dipstick-based immunoassay (P 相似文献   

Mucus-depleted frog palate as a model for the study of mucociliary clearance

To better understand the frog palate model of mucociliary transport, we measured the transport rate of mucus (MTR) from the leopard frog, Rana pipiens, and from the bullfrog, R. catesbeiana, recorded the stability of the MTR over a period of hours and days and over the course of 1 yr, and measured the viscoelasticity, percent solid composition, and spinnability (filance) of mucus from both species. Bullfrog mucus was less rigid than leopard frog mucus (log G* at 1 rad/s 2.09 vs. 2.61; P less than 0.01) and had a higher viscosity-to-elasticity ratio (tan delta at 1 rad/s 0.36 vs. 0.26; P less than 0.05). It also had a lower solids content (8.71 vs. 13.72%; P = 0.02), and there was a trend to lower spinnability for bullfrog mucus (filance 26.7 vs. 33.5 mm). These data suggest that bullfrog mucus has viscoelastic properties similar to normal mammalian respiratory mucus and leopard frog mucus has viscoelasticity similar to sputum samples. MTR was significantly slower in the winter than in the summer months (17 vs. 30 mm/min; P less than 0.0001). Although the leopard frog palate could be used for at least 7 consecutive days without exhaustion, bullfrog palates could be used for only 5 days. Palates of either species could generally be tested for 6 h/day without a significant decrease in MTR. These data clarify some of the sources of variability in the use of this system and suggest methods of standardization.     

Evaluation of different plating media used in the isolation of salmonellas from environmental samples

Different serotypes of salmonellas were compared for selectivity and efficiency of recovery using 11 plating media. No optimal growth was obtained after 24h incubation in any of the media, but after 48h, brilliant green, brilliant green-phenol red-lactose-sucrose, bismuth sulphite, xylose-lysine-deoxycholate and Hektoen enteric agars showed optimal recovery of all the salmonella serotypes.
Xylose-lysine-deoxycholate and brilliant green-phenol red-lactose-sucrose agars were the most selective media for all salmonella serotypes. Addition of 10 μg/ml of sodium novobiocin to the tryptic soy-xylose-lysine and tryptic soy-brilliant green agars significantly improved their selectivity but reduced or inhibited the growth of some salmonella serotypes, including Salmonella typhi. Xylose-lysine-deoxycholate agar gave the highest recovery percentage of stressed salmonellas with a double-agar layer technique. Good recovery was also obtained on brilliant green-phenol red-lactose-sucrose, tryptic soy-brilliant green, tryptic soy-brilliant green-novobiocin, tryptic, soy-xylose-lysine and tryptic soy-xylose-lysine-novobiocin agars. Salmonella-shigella agar was the least efficient medium for the recovery of salmonellas under stress-induced or non-stressed conditions.     

Evaluation of different plating media used in the isolation of salmonellas from environmental samples

Different serotypes of salmonellas were compared for selectivity and efficiency of recovery using 11 plating media. No optimal growth was obtained after 24 h incubation in any of the media, but after 48 h, brilliant green, brilliant green-phenol red-lactose-sucrose, bismuth sulphite, xylose-lysine-deoxycholate and Hektoen enteric agars showed optimal recovery of all the salmonella serotypes. Xylose-lysine-deoxycholate and brilliant green-phenol red-lactose-sucrose agars were the most selective media for all salmonella serotypes. Addition of 10 micrograms/ml of sodium novobiocin to the tryptic soy-xylose-lysine and tryptic soy-brilliant green agars significantly improved their selectivity but reduced or inhibited the growth of some salmonella serotypes, including Salmonella typhi. Xylose-lysine-deoxycholate agar gave the highest recovery percentage of stressed salmonellas with a double-agar layer technique. Good recovery was also obtained on brilliant green-phenol red-lactose-sucrose, tryptic soy-brilliant green, tryptic soy-brilliant green-novobiocin, tryptic, soy-xylose-lysine and tryptic soy-xylose-lysine-novobiocin agars. Salmonella-shigella agar was the least efficient medium for the recovery of salmonellas under stress-induced or non-stressed conditions.     

Embryo yield and plasma progesterone profiles in superovulated dairy cows and heifers.

This study was conducted to compare the superovulatory (SOV) response of dairy cows (n=172) and heifers (n=172), with two SOV treatments started at the mid-luteal-phase of the estrus cycle. Donors were randomly treated either with equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) plus neutra-eCG serum (eCG+N group, n=167) or follicle stimulating gonadotrophin (FSH-P group, n=177).No significant differences were observed among groups in the percentage of superovulatory responsive donors (SR donors; corpora lutea (CL) >/=2), the mean number of total ova, fertilized ova and viable embryos recovered. Cows yielded significantly less total ova and less fertilized ova (P<0.05) and tended to yield less viable embryos (P<0.06) than heifers.Plasma progesterone (P4) concentrations (n=135 donors) on the day of PGF(2alpha) (PGF) injection and on the day of SOV estrus were significantly higher (P<0.01) in eCG+N than in FSH-P donors and, the increase between those 2 days was also significantly higher (P<0.05) in group eCG+N than in group FSH-P, suggesting a higher luteotrophic effect of eCG than FSH-P. SR donors had P4 levels significantly higher (P<0.001) than non-SR donors only on day 5 after the SOV estrus and on the day of embryo recovery. Plasma P4 concentrations at 5 days after the SOV estrus and at embryo recovery correlated significantly (r=0.76, P<0.001).Heifers had significantly higher P4 levels than cows at gonadotrophin injection (P<0.01), PGF injection (P<0.001), 5 days (P<0.01) and 7 days (P<0.001) after the SOV estrus. At day 7 after the SOV estrus, P4 concentrations per ova recovered were significantly higher in heifers than in cows (P<0.01). The increase of plasma P4 per ova recovered, between days 5 and 7 after the SOV estrus, was significantly (P<0.01) higher in heifers than in cows. Also, the increase of plasma P4 between injections of gonadotrophin and PGF was significantly higher (P<0.05) in heifers than in cows.These results suggest that heifers have higher plasma P4 concentrations at diestrus (either before or after the SOV treatment) and this is associated with a higher embryo yield and quality, as compared to lactating cows. These higher plasma P4 concentrations reflect not only differences in ovulation rate as well as the competence of the corpus luteum, which is potentialized by gonadotrophin stimulation.     

Influence of the uterine environment on rat sperm motility and swimming speed

The present study compared several rat sperm parameters in semen samples recovered from a natural uterine environment (i.e., intact estrous female) to those recovered from an artificially induced uterine environment (i.e., ovariectomized hormonally primed female). The sperm parameters measured were percent motile, percent exhibiting forward progressive motility, actual swimming speed, and linear swimming speed. The comparisons were conducted at four postcopulatory time points (0.25, 1.5, 3, and 6 hours) in order to detect differences as a function of residence time within the uterus. No significant differences (P less than 0.05) in the parameters were seen between the two types of uterine environments. Residence time within the reproductive tract had no significant effect on the parameters with the exception of percent motile, which was significantly increased (P less than 0.01) at the 1.5-hour postcopulatory time point.     

Skeletal muscle characteristics in sedentary black and Caucasian males

Twenty-three male Black African and 23 male Caucasian subjects, ascertained as sedentary, participated in this study designed to determine whether there were differences in skeletal muscle histochemical and biochemical characteristics between racial groups. Muscle fiber type proportions (I, IIa, and IIb), fiber areas and activities of several enzyme markers of different energy metabolic pathways were determined from a biopsy of the vastus lateralis. Results indicated that Caucasians had a higher percent type I (8%, P less than 0.01) and a lower percent type IIa (6.7%, P less than 0.05) fiber proportions than Africans. No significant differences were observed between the two racial groups in the type IIb fiber proportion or in the three fiber type areas. Enzymes catalyzing reactions in phosphagenic [creatine kinase (CK)] and glycolytic [hexokinase (HK), phosphofructokinase (PFK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)] metabolic pathways had significantly higher activities (about 30-40%) in the Black African group than in the Caucasian group (P less than 0.01). No significant difference was noted in the activities of oxidative enzymes [malate dehydrogenase (MDH), oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (OGDH), and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (HADH)]. Consequently, the PFK/OGDH ratio was significantly elevated in Africans (P less than 0.05). The racial differences observed between Africans and Caucasians in fiber type proportion and enzyme activities of the phosphagenic and glycolytic metabolic pathways may well result from inherited variation. These data suggest that sedentary male Black individuals are, in terms of skeletal muscle characteristics, well endowed for sport events of short duration.     

A comparison of isolation procedures for salmonellas from polluted water using two forms of Rappaport's medium

The efficiency of Rappaport's broth ( RB10 ) and Rappaport's broth containing novobiocin ( NRB10 ) were compared for the isolation of salmonellas from polluted water, both as direct enrichment media and after pre-enrichment in buffered peptone water. Ninety samples were examined and 41 were found to contain salmonellas by at least one of the procedures used. Direct inoculation of the sample into RB10 resulted in the recovery of salmonellas from only 29.3% of the samples found to be positive. The use of NRB10 as a direct enrichment medium increased the percentage recovery to 78.0% of the total positive samples. Pre-enrichment in buffered peptone water allowed the recovery of salmonellas from a total of 41 samples whereas direct enrichment recovered them from only 32. No significant difference was demonstrated in the efficiencies of RB10 and NRB10 in recovering salmonellas after pre-enrichment in buffered peptone water. Three selective agars were used: no significant difference in their ability to recover salmonellae was demonstrated.     

Evolution of postprandial cholesterolemia and triglyceridemia with age in the preruminant calf; the effect of sorbitol ingestion

From birth to 10 weeks of age, 7 Friesian male calves were fed milk replacers containing 21 p. 100 tallow. The calves were divided into two groups: a control group (4 calves) and a "sorbitol" group (3 calves) receiving sorbitol in the milk replacer (0.6 g/100 g DM). At 2, 3, 5, 7 and 10 weeks of age, plasma concentrations of free cholesterol, cholesterol esters and triglycerides were determined in jugular blood 2 h before the morning meal and 1/2, 2, 3, 5 and 7 h after feeding. No significant variations were observed in the pattern of postprandial estercholesterolemia whatever the age or diet. Average estercholesterolemia was significantly higher (P less than 0.01) at 2-3 weeks of age than at 5, 7 or 10 weeks. Sorbitol supplementation decreased estercholesterolemia significantly (P less than 0.01) when the calves were 2 weeks old, but no effect was observed later. Similar variations in postprandial cholesterolemia were noted for both groups at all ages. Cholesterolemia was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) during the - 2h, + 1/2 hour-period than in the 2-5- hour period and rose significantly at 7 h (P less than 0.05) to the same pre-feeding level. Average cholesterolemia showed the same changes with age as estercholesterolemia in both groups. Changes in postprandial triglyceridemia were similar to those of cholesterolemia in both groups at all the ages studied. The decrease in triglyceridemia (P less than 0.01) 2 h after feeding was probably related to intense lipolysis, and the increase (P less than 0.05) 7 h after feeding was due to the arrival of new feed triglycerides. Triglyceridemia was significantly (P less than 0.05) lower when the calves were 10 weeks old than when they were younger, but no change was observed when sorbitol was added to the diet.     

Preliminary evaluation of four immunological tests for the early diagnosis of Hypoderma tarandi causing hypodermosis in reindeer

294 serum samples from five Norwegian reindeer herds were examined for antibodies against Hypoderma tarandi L. The first and second larval instars of H. tarandi were tested as antigens in immunodiffusion tests, passive haemagglutination and an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The latter technique, using first instar antigens, produced the best results. A significant difference (P less than 0.1%) was observed between the antibody value of naive reindeer bred in France and those from infected Norwegian herds. No correlation was observed between the antibody titre and the number of warbles recovered at necropsy from the 294 Norwegian reindeer.     

Performance of papillary muscles from the aging spontaneously hypertensive rat: temporal changes in isometric contraction parameters

Myocardial mechanics in the male spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rat (WKY) at 18 months of age were studied. Left ventricular hypertrophy was documented in the SHR by an increase in left ventricle/body weight and left ventricle/tibial length ratios when compared to the WKY (P less than 0.001). Isolated left ventricular papillary muscles were studied at 28 degrees C while contracting 12 times/min at the apex of the length-tension curve. Active and passive length-tension relations were measured at relatively early (65 +/- 3 min) and late (200 +/- 5 min) times following sacrifice. No significant differences in passive length-tension relations between strains were observed. Between early and late measurements, a significant decrease in passive tension within the length spectrum 89-100% Lmax occurred in both SHR and WKY, accompanied by a significant increase in passive stiffness (P less than 0.01, SHR; P less than 0.001, WKY). Isometric performance was measured at relatively early (81 +/- 3 min) and later (190 +/- 5 min) times following sacrifice. Strain differences in active muscle performance were of a greater electromechanical delay time (EMD) (P less than 0.05, early: P less than 0.001, late) and time-to-peak tension (TPT) (P less than 0.001, late) in SHR compared to WKY. Between early and late measurements, decreases in EMD (P less than 0.01, SHR; P less than 0.001, WKY), TPT (P less than 0.001; P less than 0.001), the half-time of relaxation (P less than 0.001; P less than 0.001), and the resting tension (P less than 0.01; P less than 0.001) were observed, and the maximum rate of fall of tension increased (P less than 0.01; P less than 0.01). We conclude that studies must be precisely referenced from the time of sacrifice of the animal in order to accurately evaluate the effects of experimental hypertrophy on isolated muscle performance. No evidence for the depression of papillary muscle isometric performance was seen in the 18-month SHR when compared to the WKY, although prolonged EMD and TPT were observed.     

Social stress increases fecal shedding of Salmonella typhimurium by early weaned piglets

"Segregated early weaning" (SEW) of pigs reduces exposure to pathogenic bacteria, but upon arrival at grower facilities pigs may be co-mingled regardless of farm of origin. The present study was designed to examine the effect of mixing (social) stress on populations of Salmonella enterica Typhimurium in SEW pigs. Piglets (7 days old; n = 28 in each of 2 replicates) were separated into 2 treatments (control and mixed groups) of 2 pens per treatment (7 piglets/pen). One (n = 1) "seeder" pig/pen was inoculated with 10(9) CFU of S. Typhimurium. Each seeder was placed with non-inoculated "contact" piglets (n = 6). A"contact" piglet was swapped each day between the "mixed" pens for 5 days; pigs in control pens were not exchanged. On day 5, the incidence of fecal Salmonella shedding was higher in the mixed contact pigs (P < 0.05). Rectal Salmonella and cecal coliform populations in mixed pigs were significantly (P < 0.05) greater than in control pigs but cecal Salmonella populations were not different. Mixed pigs were more susceptible to tissue invasiveness (i.e., Salmonella-positive tonsils and lymph nodes) than control pigs. These results indicate that social stress of weaned pigs may increase susceptibility to and/or fecal shedding of Salmonella. Food-borne Salmonella infections in the United States are estimated to cost the economy dollar 2.4 billion annually (ERS/USDA, 2001). Approximately 6-9% of human salmonellosis is associated with the consumption of pork products (Frenzen et al., 1999). Salmonella is relatively common on swine farms and has been isolated from all stages of the pork production chain (Davies et al., 1999; Fedorka-Cray et al., 1997b; Rostagno et al., 2003). Salmonella is a threat to the pork industry not only from a food-safety perspective as a public health concern, but some Salmonella serotypes can cause clinical illnesses in swine, negatively impacting production efficiency and profitability (Schwartz, 1991).     

Antimicrobial susceptibility and factors affecting the shedding of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella in dairy cattle

AIMS: To examine factors affecting faecal shedding of the foodborne pathogens Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella in dairy cattle and evaluate antimicrobial susceptibility of these isolates. METHODS: Faecal samples were obtained in replicate from lactating (LAC; n = 60) and non-lactating (NLAC; n = 60) Holstein cattle to determine influence of heat stress, parity, lactation status (LAC vs NLAC) and stage of lactation [60 days in milk (DIM)] and cultured for E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella. A portion of the recovered isolates were examined for antimicrobial susceptibility using the broth microdilution technique. RESULTS: No effects of heat stress were observed. Lactating cows shed more (P < 0.01) E. coli O157:H7 than NLAC cows (43% vs 32%, respectively). Multiparous LAC cows tended to shed more (P = 0.06) Salmonella than primiparous LAC cows (39% vs 27%, respectively). Parity did not influence (P > 0.10) bacterial shedding in NLAC cows. Cows 60 DIM. Seventeen Salmonella serotypes were identified with the most prevalent being Senftenberg (18%), Newport (17%) and Anatum (15%). Seventy-nine of the Salmonella isolates were resistant to at least one of the seven antibiotics. Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolates were resistant to 11 different antibiotics with multiple resistance to nine or more antibiotics observed in five isolates. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study demonstrated differences in the shedding patterns of foodborne pathogens due to the stage of the milk production cycle and may help identify times when on-farm pathogen control would be the most effective.     

Evaluation of the effectiveness of a commercially available defined substrate medium and enumeration system for measuring Escherichia coli numbers in faeces and soil samples

AIMS: To determine if a commercially available defined substrate medium and enumeration system could be utilized as an effective and accurate means of enumerating Escherichia coli in environmental samples containing faeces and soil. METHODS AND RESULTS: The samples tested were either inoculated with laboratory grown E. coli or natural E. coli populations in cow faeces. The number of E. coli recovered from faeces and soil samples using the defined substrate medium and enumeration system and a miniaturized MPN method (using traditional media) was compared by analysing the difference between the two methods in relation to the mean. For four of five groups of samples analysed there was no significant difference in the number of E. coli recovered by the two methods (P > 0.05). In one batch the difference was 0.30 log, which while being statistically significant (P < 0.01) was not considered to be biologically significant. CONCLUSION: The commercially available enumeration system was significantly more precise than the miniaturized MPN method (P < 0.001). SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: We conclude that the commercially available defined substrate medium and enumeration system is a suitable method for the measurement of E. coli numbers in faeces and soil samples and should provide advantages of increased precision and a reduction in laboratory analysis time.     

Thyroid function before and after induced abortion in normal pregnant women.

We assessed thyroid function before and after induced abortion in 25 normal pregnant women. Serum TSH was significantly increased (P less than 0.02), and serum hCG-beta was significantly reduced (P less than 0.001) 1 week after induced abortion, compared with the levels before induced abortion. There was a significant negative correlation between hCG-beta and TSH, and a positive one between hCG-beta and FT4 before induced abortion (P less than 0.02). No difference was observed in thyroid hormones before and 1 week after induced abortion. The results suggest that hCG stimulates the thyroid gland, gaining an advantage over TSH, in normal pregnant women.     

A comparison of the enzyme levels and the in vitro utilization of various substrates for lipogenesis in pair-fed lean and obese pigs.

In this study of spontaneous obesity of pigs, specific metabolic shifts were observed, which explain an increase in fat deposition. Liver tissue utilization of pyruvate and glucose for oxidation and lipogenesis showed no significant difference between lean and obese pigs. Adipose tissue utilization of glucose, acetate and glycerol for triglyceride and fatty acid synthesis was greater in obese pigs than lean pigs (P less than 0.01). No significant difference in leucine incorporation into lipid fractions was found. Of the substrates utilized, glucose supplied 86 and 94% of the glyceride-glycerol synthesized in lean and obese pigs, respectively. Glycerol was not a major contributor to glyceride-glycerol synthesis (3.5 to 5.5%), in spite of the presence of adipose tissue glycerokinase. An increase (P less than 0.05) in alanine incorporation into glucose was observed in liver tissue from obese pigs. In general, the levels of enzymes activities associated with gluconeogenesis, glycolysis, and lipogenesis supported the findings of in vitro utilization of these substrates.     

Time course of muscle adaptation after high force eccentric exercise

The repeated bout effect on changes in muscle damage indicators was examined in two groups of subjects following two bouts of 70 maximal eccentric actions of the forearm flexors. Fourteen college age female subjects were placed into two groups. The two bouts were separated by 6 weeks (n = 6), and 10 weeks (n = 8). The subjects performed the same amount of work for the bouts. The muscle damage indicators were isometric strength (STR), relaxed elbow joint angle (RANG), flexed elbow joint angle (FANG), perceived muscle soreness ratings (SOR), and plasma creatine kinase activity (CK). These measures were obtained pre-exercise and 5 days following each bout. The first bout showed significant changes in all measures over time for both groups (P less than 0.01). For the 6-week group, significantly smaller changes in RANG (P less than 0.01), SOR (P less than 0.05), and CK (P less than 0.01), as well as significantly faster recoveries (P less than 0.05) for STR and FANG were produced in the second bout. For the 10-week group, significantly smaller changes in RANG (P less than 0.05) and CK (P less than 0.01) were demonstrated by the second bout, but not significant difference was found for STR, FANG, and SOR between bouts 1 and 2. Changes in CK were still significantly smaller than that of the first bout when 6 subjects (3 subjects from each group) performed the same exercise 6 months after the second bout, but no difference in other measures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)