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A serosurvey of water-borne pathogens amongst canoeists in South Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

M. B. Taylor ,
P. J. Becker ,
E. Janse Van Rensburg ,
B. N. Harris ,
I. W. Bailey  and
W. O. K. Grabow
M. B. Taylor
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, PO Box 2034, Pretoria 0001., South Africa
P. J. Becker
Affiliation:
Centre for Epidemiological Research in Southern Africa. Medical Research Council. Private Bag X385. Pretoria 0001, South Africa
E. Janse Van Rensburg
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, PO Box 2034, Pretoria 0001., South Africa
B. N. Harris
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health. University of Pretoria. PO Box 667. Pretoria 001, South Africa
I. W. Bailey
Affiliation:
Umgeni Water. PO Box 9. Pietermaritzburg 3200, South Africa
W. O. K. Grabow
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, PO Box 2034, Pretoria 0001., South Africa
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Summary

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Certain health risks have been associated with recreational exposure to faecally polluted water. Canoeing in certain South African waters is considered to be a high risk activity with regard to schistosomiasis. gastroenteritis and possibly hepatitis. In a cross-sectional study, a serosurvey was conducted amongst canoeists to ascertain whether or not they had a higher seroprevalence to hepatitis A virus. Norwalk virus and Schistosoma spp. than non-canoeists. In comparisons between the two groups, a significant association could not be demonstrated between canoeing and antibody response to hepatitis A and Norwalk viruses (P-values for age-adjusted χ2 were 0·083 and 0·219 respectively), but a significant association could be demonstrated between canoeing and the antibody response to Schistosoma spp. (P > 0·001: age-adjusted).

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 115 , Issue 2 , October 1995 , pp. 299 - 307
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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