A SEROSURVEY OF WATER-BORNE PATHOGENS AMONGST CANOEISTS IN SOUTH-AFRICA

Certain health risks have been associated with recreational exposure t o 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 no t they had a higher seroprevalence to hepatitis A virus, Norwalk virus and Schistosoma spp. than non-canoeists. In comparisons between the t wo groups, a significant association could not be demonstrated between canoeing and antibody response to hepatitis A and Norwalk viruses (P- values for age-adjusted Chi(2) 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).