SummaryThe faecal and vaginal carriage rates ofListeria monocytogenesin 500 and 1365 pregnant women, respectively, were investigated.Listeria monocytogeneswas isolated from the faeces of eight pregnant women (1–6 per cent), but not from any of the high vaginal swabs. The results' indicated that the carriage ofListeria monocytogenesin the faeces is unlikely to pose a source of contamination of the vagina.