AGE AND POPULATION GROUP-RELATED DISTRIBUTION OF ENTEROPATHOGENS IN THE EASTERN CAPE, SOUTH-AFRICA

The frequency of Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Campylobacter spp., Y ersinia enterocolitica, Aeromonas hydrophilia and Helminths in samples from various hospitals of the Eastern Cape, South Africa, were analys ed for trends involving age distribution and population group. Signifi cant differences in the distribution of these pathogens could be attri buted to hygiene and environmental difference between the age and popu lation groups which suggests that rapid urbanization and poor water su pply remain major problems in the drought prone Eastern Cape.