The aetiology of diarrhoea in a farming community in Zimbabwe.

A survey of enteric pathogens in 143 children with diarrhoea, 116 age-matched controls and 524 asymptomatic people of all ages in a commercial farming area was carried out over a period of one year. Giardia lamblia was detected in 34% of the cases, 29% of the controls and 23% of asymptomatic people of all ages. Various bacterial pathogens (Campylobacter, Shigella, Salmonella and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli) were isolated from 23% of the cases and 15% of the controls. Enteropathogenic E. coli was isolated as frequently from the cases as from the controls and asymptomatic people of all ages.