title: A serosurvey of water-borne pathogens amongst canoeists in South Africa.
abstract: 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 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).
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Van Rensburg
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: I W
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: W O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Grabow
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006507:Hepatovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009663:Norwalk virus / Q000276:immunology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012547:Schistosoma / Q000276:immunology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012767:Ships; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013177:Sports; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000914:Antibodies, Viral