[Muscular lesions and enzymatic activities in fighting bulls]

The aim of this study was to determine whether some muscular pathology existed in fighting bulls, in relation or not to the weakness shown in these animals during the bullfight (corrida for males and tienta for females). Creatinine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and aspartate transaminase (AST) serum enzyme activities were increased after the corrida or the tienta. Most of the fighting bulls (78%) had some histological lesions in the skeletal or cardiac muscle, with predominance of chronic lesions. Clinical signs of these chronic lesions could only be seen after some trigger-effect, such as physical, exercise or stress, as shown after the corrida or tienta.