OBJECTIVESKendo protective equipment is used without washing for a long time.Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Micrococcus luteus, andBacillus sphaericus are frequently isolated from the mask ('men' in Japanese) of kendo protective equipment during one year. To investigate the bactericidal effects of electrolyzed acidic water on these three bacteria, we observed their cellular structures by electron microscopy after treatment with such water.

METHODSEach bacterium isolated from 'men' was treated with electrolyzed acidic water and then observed under scanning and transmission electron microscopes.

RESULTSWhenS. saprophyticus was treated with electrolyzed acidic water and its cellular structures were observed under a transmission electron microscope, ghost cytoplasm was observed, in which no ribosomal granules or fibrous DNA structures were present, and the cell wall inner layer was detached from the outer layer. Under a scanning electron microscope, the structure of the cell wall surface layer was wrinkled, and round pores were partially formed, indicating that the cytoplasmic structures were flushed out of the cells treated with electrolyzed acidic water through the pores formed in the cell wall. InM. luteus, the destruction of ribosomal granules and that of DNA fibers were observed to be similar to those ofS. saprophyticus. ForB. sphaericus, the effect of electrolyzed acidic water was investigated using vegetative cells. A dissociation between the cytoplasm and cell wall wrinkled the cell surface layer.

CONCLUSIONOn the basis of above findings, electrolyzed acidic water was found to destroy the cellular structures of the three bacterial species frequently isolated from kendo men within a short time. Electrolyzed acidic water may be useful for disinfecting of kendo equipment.

OBJECTIVESSumo wrestling is one of the most popular sports in Japan. Injuries are not uncommon as this is a vigorous contact sport. Sumo wrestlers have little in the way of protective clothing; their main garb is the mawashi, making them prone to exposure to any microorganisms in the dohyo. The bacterial flora of the dohyo has received little attention. If the constituent flora is identified, then appropriate treatment or prevention of any bacterial lesions or infections incurred by the wrestlers is possible.

METHODSThe Vitek AMS system used in this study was developed by McDonnell Douglas Corporation. In this system, the physiological and biochemical properties of Gram-positive and negative bacilli, Gram-positive and-negative cocci, and fungi isolated from clinical materials and environments are examined using test cards specifically for each microorganism group, and the results are automatically read by a computer and encoded. Obtained codes are compared with a built-in database, and bacterial species of test strains are identified.

RESULTSIn this study, using the automatic identification kit VITEK or ATB, we describe the aerobic bacterial flora found in the dohyo over the four seasons of the year. We also investigated the effect of salt on the bacterial flora as sumo wrestlers toss salt on the dohyo before each match. We show the relationship between salinity changes and variations in the flora observed upon the addition of salt. Without salt, at the beginning of a match, Gram-negative bacteria predominate. When salt is added, there is a transient decrease in the incidence of flora followed by an increase in the incidence Grampositive cocci.

CONCLUSIONSSixteen bacterial genera were identified using the bacterial identification systems in dohyo soil samples during the year. The number of identified bacterial species was 32. Even in the presence of salt, there is a measurable amount of bacterial flora in dohyo soil; salt does not act as an antibacterial agent.