Shigella and Salmonella antibodies in relation to diarrhoea were studied in a cohort of 413 children between 2 and 27 months of age in peri-urban Lima, Peru. Blood samples were obtained at 2, 3 and 12 months of age. Antibody titres against lipopolysaccharide from Shigella flexneri serotype Y, Shigella dysenteriae serotype 1, Shigella sonnei, Salmonella serogroups AO, BO, DO, and Shigella Ipa and Salmonella typhi Vi antigens were measured by enzyme immunoassay. IgG titres against S. flexneri and Shigella Ipa were higher at 2 than at 3 or 12 months of age (p = 0.001), while the changes in IgG titres against S. dysenteriae, S. sonnei and Salmonella were not pronounced. IgA and IgM titres against S. flexneri, Shigella Ipa, S. dysenteriae, S. sonnei and Salmonella were significantly higher at 12 than at 2 or 3 months of age (p = 0.001). Stool samples were obtained from children in 64% of all diarrhoeal episodes, Shigella spp. were isolated from 20% of the children during the first 2 y of lift and Salmonella in 3%. Most isolates were from children at 13-24 months of age (78%). IgG antibodies at 12 months of age did not protect against shigellosis during the second year of life.