Different profiles of soil phosphorous compounds depending on tree species and availability of soil phosphorus in a tropical rainforest in French Guiana.

BACKGROUND: The availability of soil phosphorus (P) often limits the productivities of wet tropical lowland forests. Little is known, however, about the metabolomic profile of different chemical P compounds with potentially different uses and about the cycling of P and their variability across space under different tree species in highly diverse tropical rainforests. RESULTS: We hypothesised that the different strategies of the competing tree species to retranslocate, mineralise, mobilise, and take up P from the soil would promote distinct soil 31P profiles. We tested this hypothesis by performing a metabolomic analysis of the soils in two rainforests in French Guiana using 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). We analysed 31P NMR chemical shifts in soil solutions of model P compounds, including inorganic phosphates, orthophosphate mono- and diesters, phosphonates, and organic polyphosphates. The identity of the tree species (growing above the soil samples) explained > 53% of the total variance of the 31P NMR metabolomic profiles of the soils, suggesting species-specific ecological niches and/or species-specific interactions with the soil microbiome and soil trophic web structure and functionality determining the use and production of P compounds. Differences at regional and topographic levels also explained some part of the the total variance of the 31P NMR profiles, although less than the influence of the tree species. Multivariate analyses of soil 31P NMR metabolomics data indicated higher soil concentrations of P biomolecules involved in the active use of P (nucleic acids and molecules involved with energy and anabolism) in soils with lower concentrations of total soil P and higher concentrations of P-storing biomolecules in soils with higher concentrations of total P. CONCLUSIONS: The results strongly suggest "niches" of soil P profiles associated with physical gradients, mostly topographic position, and with the specific distribution of species along this gradient, which is associated with species-specific strategies of soil P mineralisation, mobilisation, use, and uptake.

Desert dust episodes during pregnancy are associated with increased preterm delivery in French Guiana.

Preterm deliveries are a major multifactorial public health problem in French Guiana. Desert dust episodes have been associated with preterm delivery in Guadeloupe, a territory with similarities to French Guiana. We thus tried to replicate this finding in the context of French Guiana. A retrospective ecological cohort study combined daily PM10 concentration measurements during pregnancy and term at delivery extracted from French Guiana's computerized pregnancy delivery registry. Daily PM10 concentrations during the course of pregnancy were analyzed as mean concentrations and as the proportion of intense dust episodes (≥55 µg PM10/m3). These exposure variables were studied in relation to the outcome of preterm delivery. Overall, 3,321 pregnant women with complete daily PM10 measurements were included, of whom 374 (11.26%) delivered prematurely. Among preterm deliveries, 168 (44.9%) were spontaneous deliveries and 206 (55.1%) were induced. Rank-sum tests showed that, for spontaneous and induced spontaneous deliveries, both mean PM10 concentrations and proportions of intense desert dust episodes were significantly greater among preterm births than among term births. Although the proportion of intense desert dust episodes during pregnancy was significantly associated with spontaneous preterm deliveries, the relation was U-shaped, with an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2 (95%CI = 1.2-3.1) for lowest values relative to median values and AOR = 5.4 (95%CI = 3.2-8.9) for the highest values relative to median values. Similarly, the proportion of intense desert dust episodes during pregnancy was also significantly associated with induced preterm deliveries in a U-shaped manner (AOR = 2.7 (95%CI = 1.6-4.5) for the lowest relative to median values and AOR = 6.8 (95%CI = 3.9-11.9) for the highest relative to median values). Although in our study the relation between PM10 concentrations appeared non-linear, the highest mean concentrations and intense desert dust episodes were indeed associated with both spontaneous and induced preterm delivery.

Multi-locus sequence analysis unveils a novel genus of filarial nematodes associated with ticks in French Guiana.

Filarial nematodes of the Dipetalonema lineage include tick-borne filarioids that infect both domestic and wild vertebrate hosts, but they remain understudied in many cases. In this study, we conducted a molecular characterization of a Dipetalonema-like filarioid (DLF) recently identified in two tick species in French Guiana, South America. While the cox1 mitochondrial gene was the sole marker initially sequenced for describing DLF, its classification and phylogenetic relationship with other members of the Dipetalonema lineage were unclear. Therefore, we better characterized DLF through the sequencing of six additional gene markers and conducted phylogenetic analyses. Based on this multi-locus typing scheme, DLF exhibited significant divergence from known genera and species of filarioids, or other sequences available in public databases, suggesting its potential classification as a novel genus within the Dipetalonema lineage. Phylogenetic analyses further unveiled a close evolutionary relationship between DLF and all other filarioids associated with Acari (ticks and mites) within a robust monophyletic subclade in the Dipetalonema lineage. Overall, these findings confirm the existence of a specialized, Acari-borne group of filarioids and underscore the need for comprehensive investigations into their epidemiology and potential impact on animal health.

Title: Une analyse de séquences multi-locus dévoile un nouveau genre de nématodes filaires, associé aux tiques en Guyane française. Abstract: Les filaires de la lignée Dipetalonema comprennent des espèces transmises par les tiques qui infectent à la fois des hôtes vertébrés domestiques et sauvages, mais qui restent sous-étudiées dans de nombreux cas. Dans cette étude, nous avons réalisé une caractérisation moléculaire d'un filarioïde ressemblant à Dipetalonema (FRD) récemment identifié dans deux espèces de tiques en Guyane française. Alors que la séquence du gène mitochondrial cox1 était le seul marqueur génétique initialement séquencé pour décrire FRD, sa classification et sa relation phylogénétique avec d'autres membres de la lignée Dipetalonema étaient incertaines. Par conséquent, nous avons caractérisé plus précisément DLF en séquençant six gènes supplémentaires et en réalisant des analyses phylogénétiques. Sur la base de ce typage multi-locus, FRD présentait une divergence significative par rapport aux genres et espèces connus de filarioïdes, ou à d'autres séquences disponibles dans les bases de données publiques, suggérant sa classification potentielle en tant que nouveau genre au sein de la lignée Dipetalonema. Les analyses phylogénétiques ont en outre révélé une relation évolutive étroite entre FRD et tous les autres filarioïdes associés aux tiques et acariens au sein d'un sous-clade monophylétique dans la lignée Dipetalonema. Dans l'ensemble, ces résultats confirment l'existence d'un groupe spécialisé de filarioïdes transmis par les tiques et acariens et soulignent la nécessité d'études approfondies sur leur épidémiologie et leur impact potentiel sur la santé animale.

A Late Pleistocene coastal ecosystem in French Guiana was hyperdiverse relative to today.

Warmer temperatures and higher sea level than today characterized the Last Interglacial interval [Pleistocene, 128 to 116 thousand years ago (ka)]. This period is a remarkable deep-time analog for temperature and sea-level conditions as projected for 2100 AD, yet there has been no evidence of fossil assemblages in the equatorial Atlantic. Here, we report foraminifer, metazoan (mollusks, bony fish, bryozoans, decapods, and sharks among others), and plant communities of coastal tropical marine and mangrove affinities, dating precisely from a ca. 130 to 115 ka time interval near the Equator, at Kourou, in French Guiana. These communities include ca. 230 recent species, some being endangered today and/or first recorded as fossils. The hyperdiverse Kourou mollusk assemblage suggests stronger affinities between Guianese and Caribbean coastal waters by the Last Interglacial than today, questioning the structuring role of the Amazon Plume on tropical Western Atlantic communities at the time. Grassland-dominated pollen, phytoliths, and charcoals from younger deposits in the same sections attest to a marine retreat and dryer conditions during the onset of the last glacial (ca. 110 to 50 ka), with a savanna-dominated landscape and episodes of fire. Charcoals from the last millennia suggest human presence in a mosaic of modern-like continental habitats. Our results provide key information about the ecology and biogeography of pristine Pleistocene tropical coastal ecosystems, especially relevant regarding the-widely anthropogenic-ongoing global warming.

Molecular epidemiology identifies the expansion of the DENV2 epidemic lineage from the French Caribbean Islands to French Guiana and mainland France, 2023 to 2024.

In 2023, dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV2) affected most French overseas territories. In the French Caribbean Islands, viral circulation continues with > 30,000 suspected infections by March 2024. Genome sequence analysis reveals that the epidemic lineage in the French Caribbean islands has also become established in French Guiana but not Réunion. It has moreover seeded autochthonous circulation events in mainland France. To guide prevention of further inter-territorial spread and DENV introduction in non-endemic settings, continued molecular surveillance and mosquito control are essential.

Wastewater sequencing as a powerful tool to reveal SARS-CoV-2 variant introduction and spread in French Guiana, South America.

The origin of introduction of a new pathogen in a country, the evolutionary dynamics of an epidemic within a country, and the role of cross-border areas on pathogen dynamics remain complex to disentangle and are often poorly understood. For instance, cross-border areas represent the ideal location for the sharing of viral variants between countries, with international air travel, land travel and waterways playing an important role in the cross-border spread of infectious diseases. Unfortunately, monitoring the point of entry and the evolutionary dynamics of viruses in space and time within local populations remain challenging. Here we tested the efficiency of wastewater-based epidemiology and genotyping in monitoring Covid-19 epidemiology and SARS-CoV-2 variant dynamics in French Guiana, a tropical country located in South America. Our results suggest that wastewater-based epidemiology and genotyping are powerful tools to monitor variant introduction and disease evolution within a tropical country but the inclusion of both clinical and wastewater samples could still improve our understanding of genetic diversity co-circulating. Wastewater sequencing also revealed the cryptic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 variants within the country. Interestingly, we found some amino acid changes specific to the variants co-circulating in French Guiana, suggesting a local evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 variants after their introduction. More importantly, our results showed that the proximity to bordering countries was not the origin of the emergence of the French Guianese B.1.160.25 variant, but rather that this variant emerged from an ancestor B.1.160 variant introduced by European air plane travelers, suggesting thus that air travel remains a significant risk for cross-border spread of infectious diseases. Overall, we suggest that wastewater-based epidemiology and genotyping provides a cost effective and non-invasive approach for pathogen monitoring and an early-warning tool for disease emergence and spread within a tropical country.

Tuberculosis in prison: What about after release? The example of French Guiana.

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis is a major cause of mortality worldwide. Prisoners in Guiana have multiple risk factors. The primary objective of this study was to describe tuberculosis occurring in prison and after release in French Guiana between 2008 and 2020. Secondary objectives were to identify tuberculosis risk factors and determine annual incidences. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of tuberculosis cases was carried out at the Guiana prison between 2008 and 2020. Data were collected from prison registers and cross-referenced with the list of tuberculosis notifications in French Guiana. RESULTS: A total of 36 cases of tuberculosis were studied. Incidence was high, at 263/100,000 per year, higher than elsewhere in France and comparable to that in Brazil. Despite visibly effective screening on entry, with little evidence of intra-prison circulation of tuberculosis, 39% of patients were diagnosed within two years of leaving prison (76% were symptomatic). This could be explained by the high prevalence of latent forms (LTI). DISCUSSION: Continued screening on entry, in combination with annual radiological and clinical screening, and reinforced follow-up on release seem indicated to improve patient management and the search for possible LTI.

Molecular epidemiology of Candida africana isolates collected from vagina swabs in French Guiana.

Previous molecular studies have shown that Candida africana corresponds to the clade 13 of Candia albicans. It has been mostly involved in vulvovaginal candidiasis worldwide but few data exist in South America. The aim of our study was to investigate the prevalence of C. africana in women living in French Guiana. For this, we first set up a fluorescent-intercalating-dye-real time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) targeting the hyphal wall protein 1 gene. The test was applied to 212 C. albicans isolates collected from May to August 2019 from vaginal swabs, allowing the identification of six women harboring C. africana (eight isolates). The in vitro susceptibility of these eight isolates to six antifungal drugs was also evaluated. No demographics or clinical-specific features could be demonstrated. Genetic diversity of those isolates was analyzed through multilocus sequence typing and showed that diploid sequence type 182 was predominant (n = 6) and allowed the report of a new diploid sequence type.

Candida africana, the clade 13 of C. albicans, is characterized by specific genetic and phenotypic traits. Using a new molecular technique, we report a high prevalence of C. africana in vaginal swabs from patients living in French Guiana. The worldwide predominant genotype was detected in all but one patient.

Etiology of Acute Febrile Illnesses in Adults in the Defense Community in French Guiana.

In tropical countries, acute febrile illnesses represent a complex clinical problem for general practitioners. We describe the prevalence of different etiologies of acute febrile illnesses occurring among French service members and their families, excluding children, in general practice in French Guiana. From June 2017 to March 2020, patients with a fever ≥37.8°C with a duration of less than 15 days who sought medical care at the army medical centers in Cayenne and Kourou were prospectively enrolled. Based on clinical presentation, blood, urine, nasopharyngeal, and stool samples were collected for diagnostic testing for viruses, bacteria, and parasites (by direct examination, microscopic examination of blood smears, culture, serology, or polymerase chain reaction), and standardized biological tests were systematically performed. Among 175 patients retained for analysis, fever with nonspecific symptoms was predominant (46.9%), with 10 Plasmodium vivax malaria cases, 8 dengue infections, and 6 cases of Q fever. The second most frequent cause of acute febrile illness was upper respiratory tract infections (32.0%) due to influenza virus (n = 18) or human rhinovirus (n = 10). Among the causes of acute febrile illness in French Guiana, clinicians should first consider arboviruses and malaria, as well as Q fever in cases of elevated C-reactive protein with nonspecific symptoms and influenza in cases of signs and symptoms associated with upper respiratory tract infections. Despite an expanded microbiological search, the etiology of 51.4% of acute febrile illnesses remain unknown. Further investigations will be necessary to identify the etiology of acute febrile illnesses, including new pathogens, in French Guiana.

Understanding transmission risk and predicting environmental suitability for Mayaro Virus in Central and South America.

Mayaro virus (MAYV) is a mosquito-borne Alphavirus that is widespread in South America. MAYV infection often presents with non-specific febrile symptoms but may progress to debilitating chronic arthritis or arthralgia. Despite the pandemic threat of MAYV, its true distribution remains unknown. The objective of this study was to clarify the geographic distribution of MAYV using an established risk mapping framework. This consisted of generating evidence consensus scores for MAYV presence, modeling the potential distribution of MAYV in select countries across Central and South America, and estimating the population residing in areas suitable for MAYV transmission. We compiled a georeferenced compendium of MAYV occurrence in humans, animals, and arthropods. Based on an established evidence consensus framework, we integrated multiple information sources to assess the total evidence supporting ongoing transmission of MAYV within each country in our study region. We then developed high resolution maps of the disease's estimated distribution using a boosted regression tree approach. Models were developed using nine climatic and environmental covariates that are related to the MAYV transmission cycle. Using the output of our boosted regression tree models, we estimated the total population living in regions suitable for MAYV transmission. The evidence consensus scores revealed high or very high evidence of MAYV transmission in several countries including Brazil (especially the states of Mato Grosso and Goiás), Venezuela, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and French Guiana. According to the boosted regression tree models, a substantial region of South America is suitable for MAYV transmission, including north and central Brazil, French Guiana, and Suriname. Some regions (e.g., Guyana) with only moderate evidence of known transmission were identified as highly suitable for MAYV. We estimate that approximately 58.9 million people (95% CI: 21.4-100.4) in Central and South America live in areas that may be suitable for MAYV transmission, including 46.2 million people (95% CI: 17.6-68.9) in Brazil. Our results may assist in prioritizing high-risk areas for vector control, human disease surveillance and ecological studies.

Scabies in French Guiana: Quantitative and qualitative factors associated with therapeutic failure.

BACKGROUND: Strategies for the control of scabies should be adapted to local settings. Traditional communities in French Guiana have non-Western conceptions of disease and health. OBJECTIVES: The objectives for this study were to explore knowledge, attitudes and practices to identify potential factors associated with the failure of scabies treatment in these communities. METHODS: Patients with a clinical diagnosis of scabies, seen at either the Cayenne Hospital or one of 13 health centres between 01 April 2021 and 31 August 2021, were included as participants, and were seen again after 6 weeks to check for persistence of lesions. Factors associated with treatment failure were looked for both at inclusion and at 6 weeks. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a diversified subsample of participants. RESULTS: In total, 164 participants were included in the quantitative component, and 21 were interviewed for the qualitative component. Declaring that the second treatment dose had been taken was associated with therapeutic success. Western treatments were not always affordable. Better adherence was observed with topical treatments than with oral ivermectin, whereas permethrin monotherapy was associated with failure. Scabies-associated stigma was high among Amerindians and Haitians but absent in Ndjuka Maroons. Participants reported environmental disinfection as being very complex. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of scabies in traditional Guianan communities may vary depending on local perceptions of galenic formulations, disease-associated stigma and differences in access to health care. These factors should be taken into account when devising strategies for the control of scabies aimed at traditional communities living in remote areas, and migrant populations.

Migration in French Guiana: Implications in health and infectious diseases.

In French Guiana, more than a third of the population, and nearly half of the adults, are of foreign origin. This immigration is explained by the French standard of living, which is attractive to nationals of surrounding countries. Infectious diseases remain in the top 10 causes of premature death, often in the most precarious populations. In this context we aimed to synthesize the state of the knowledge regarding immigration and infectious diseases in French Guiana and the general implications that follow this diagnosis. For HIV, although the majority of patients are of foreign origin, estimates of the presumed date of infection based on CD4 erosion modelling and from molecular analyses suggest that the majority of transmissions in foreign-born individuals occur in French Guiana and that the Guiana shield has been a crossroad between Latin America and the Caribbean. Among key populations bridging these regions illegal gold miners are very mobile and have the greatest proportion B Caribbean HIV viruses. Gold miners have been a key vulnerable population for falciparum malaria and other tropical diseases such as leishmaniasis, leprosy, or leptospirosis. The complex history of migrations in French Guiana and on the Guiana Shield is also reflected in the fingerprinting of mycobacterium tuberculosis and the high incidence of tuberculosis in French Guiana, notably in immigrants, reflects the incidences in the countries of origin of patients. The high burden of infectious diseases in immigrants in French Guiana is first and foremost a reflection of the precarious living conditions within French Guiana and suggests that community-based proactive interventions are crucial to reduce transmission, morbidity, and mortality from infectious diseases.

Influence of a hydroelectric dam on fish mercury contamination along the Sinnamary River (French Guiana).

The Petit Saut hydroelectric dam and the upstream and downstream areas of the Sinnamary River in French Guiana (Amazon basin) have been studied from 1993 to 2020. The nearly thirty-years-long study of the monitoring of total mercury concentration in fish and the physicochemical survey of the environment made it possible to demonstrate the impact of the flooding of the forest and the role of the hydroelectric dam on the methylation of mercury. Results show that the physicochemical modifications generated by the construction of the dam led to a significant production of methylmercury (MeHg) in the anoxic part of the reservoir and downstream of the river leading to a strong spatio-temporal impact of the dam. Seven species of fishes are studied and their mercury concentrations vary according to many parameters: fish diet, position in the water column, site, lake oxycline level and time.

Is there Lyme borreliosis in French Guiana? Descriptive study among patients referred for a suspected Lyme borreliosis in an Amazonian hospital between 2010 and 2022.

Lyme borreliosis (LB) existence in South America is debated, especially in the Amazon region. The infection with Lyme borreliae has never been reported in French Guiana where Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is not found in ticks. We describe the final diagnosis and presumed place of acquisition in patients consulting for suspicion of LB. We retrospectively collected data from all consecutive patients consulting for a suspicion of LB between 2010 and 2021 at Cayenne Hospital, French Guiana. Patients were classified by an adjudication committee as confirmed LB if they met the criteria of the French consensus, as possible LB if they had compatible symptoms and a good outcome after appropriate treatment, or excluded when a differential diagnosis was found. The place of acquisition was discussed in case of possible or confirmed case. Twenty-six patients were included. Rheumatologic symptoms were the most reported (88 %) followed by neurological symptoms (61 %). Twenty-four (92 %) of these patients were born out of French Guiana. Diagnosis of LB was considered as confirmed in 2 patients (8 %), for whom the place of acquisition was likely mainland France, and as possible in 3 patients (11 %) with early localized LB presumably acquired in French Guiana. Functional somatic disorders were diagnosed in 13 (50 %) patients whereas 9 (35 %) were found with another disease. This study did not confirm the acquisition of LB in French Guiana. However, three possible autochthonous cases encourage clinicians working in the Amazon area to stay aware of LB.

Chest CT findings in community-acquired pneumonia due to Coxiella burnetii (Q fever) compared to Streptococcus pneumoniae, a cross sectional study in French Guiana, 2013-2017.

OBJECTIVES: Few and small studies previously examined chest CT-scan characteristics of Coxiella burnetii (Cb) community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Larger studies are needed to guide physicians towards diagnosis of Q fever in case of pneumonia. METHODS: We conducted a single-center retrospective observational study between 2013 and 2017. All patients with Cb or Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp) CAP who had a chest CT-scan on admission at Cayenne Hospital (French Guiana) were included. Chest CT-scan were all analyzed by the same expert radiologist. RESULTS: We included 75 patients with Cb CAP and 36 with Sp CAP. Fifty-nine percent of all patients were men (n = 66) and median age was 52 [IQR = 38-62]. Chest CT-scans of Cb CAP patients revealed 67 alveolar condensations (89 %), 52 ground-glass opacities (69 %), 30 cases of lymphadenopathy(ies) (40 %) and 25 pleural effusions (33 %). Parenchyma lesions caused by Cb were predominantly unilateral (67 %). We found high numbers of alveolar condensations in both Cb and Sp CAP (89 % and 75 %; respectively), but the presence of ground-glass opacities was significantly associated with Cb CAP (69 % versus 30 %; p < 0.01). Cb CAP were associated with more lymphadenopathies (40 % vs 17 %; p = 0.01) while Sp CAP showed more bronchial thickening (19 % versus 3 %; p < 0.01) and (micro)nodule(s) ≤1 cm (25 % vs 3 %, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This large study shows that the most typical aspect of chest CT-scan in case of Cb CAP in French Guiana is a unilateral alveolar consolidation associated with ground glass opacities and lymphadenopathies. C. burnetti and S. pneumoniae both most often cause alveolar consolidations, but present some significantly different CT-scan patterns. This could help physicians through therapeutic choices.

Favorable evolution of severe paraquat poisoning. Treatment with gastric lavage, activated charcoal, cyclophosphamide + corticoids, and conventional daily hemodialysis: case study at the Franck Joly Hospital Center in French Guiana / Évolution favorable d'une intoxication grave au paraquat. Traitement par lavage gastrique, charbon activé, cyclophosphamide + corticoïdes, et hémodialyse conventionnelle quotidienne : étude des cas au centre hospitalier Franck Joly en Guyane française

We report the observations of two patients, having voluntarily ingested lethal doses of paraquat with suicidal intent, with an unfavorable prognostic score. The treatment consisted of gastric lavage, administration of activated charcoal, n-acetylcysteine and cyclophosphamide + methylprednisolone + dexamethasone. The installation of acute renal failure motivated the initiation of daily conventional hemodialysis (HD) over 10 to 14 days, with a favorable evolution. The following complications were recorded: anemia, bacteremia and deep vein thrombosis. These observations raise three questions in the treatment of paraquat intoxication: the effectiveness of HD, the interest of its association with the above therapies in the prevention of pulmonary fibrosis, and the need for infectious prevention and thromboembolism. Furthermore, the absence of a paraquatemia assay cannot constitute a limitation for management, and hemoperfusion on an inaccessible charcoal column can be replaced by an HD usually available.

Nous rapportons les observations de deux patients ayant ingéré volontairement des doses létales du paraquat à but suicidaire, avec un score pronostic défavorable. Le traitement a consisté en un lavage gastrique, une administration du charbon activé, du n-acétylcystéine et du cyclophosphamide + méthylprednisolone + dexaméthasone. L'installation d'une insuffisance rénale aiguë a motivé l'initiation d'une hémodialyse conventionnelle quotidienne (HD) sur 10 à 14 jours, avec une évolution favorable. Les complications suivantes ont été enregistrées : anémie, bactériémie et thrombose veineuse profonde. Ces observations soulèvent trois questions dans le traitement d'une intoxication au paraquat : l'efficacité de l'HD, l'intérêt de son association avec les thérapeutiques supra dans la prévention de la fibrose pulmonaire, et la nécessité d'une prévention infectieuse et thrombo-embolique. Par ailleurs, l'absence d'un dosage de la paraquatémie ne peut constituer une limite pour la prise en charge, et l'hémoperfusion sur colonne de charbon non accessible peut être remplacée par une HD habituellement disponible.

Hunger in French Guiana, an endemic plague worsened by the health crisis / La faim en Guyane française : un fléau endémique amplifié par la crise sanitaire

In 2020, food shortages occurred at the beginning of the confinement period that was supposed to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. In French Guiana, where a major part of the population lives under the poverty line, health workers voiced major concerns. Alongside massive food aid distributions, a first transversal study was carried out in August 2020 targeting poor neighborhoods in Cayenne. The results were particularly worrying. More than 80% of households had been suffering from hunger during that month, with a median decrease of 46% in revenue. Two other investigations followed in February and then in August of 2021. With the relaxing of the health measures, the situation improved in the Cayenne region, but two out of three were still affected, showing signs of quantitative deficiencies and insufficient food diversity. The situation seemed particularly grave for children. In light of this situation, we propose to create an observatory of food insecurity in Guiana, while maintaining this topic as a health priority. In addition, the fight against food insecurity cannot be limited to multi-sectorial material and strategic aide. It must be thought about in a more global manner, including health and social questions, territorial management policies, access to land and water, access to rights and social inclusion. Targeted actions helping the most exposed and vulnerable people is also an important stake, independent of the administrative situation and residency rights of the concerned people.

En 2020, des pénuries alimentaires sont survenues dès l'entrée en vigueur du confinement destiné à contrôler la pandémie de COVID-19. En Guyane Française, où une forte proportion de la population vivait déjà sous le seuil de pauvreté, des alertes préoccupantes ont émané d'acteurs de santé. En parallèle du déploiement d'une aide alimentaire massive, une première enquête transversale a été menée en août 2020, ciblant les quartiers précaires des environs de Cayenne. Les résultats étaient particulièrement inquiétants : plus de 80 % des ménages avaient souffert de la faim dans le mois, avec une baisse médiane de revenus de 46 %. Deux autres enquêtes ont suivi, en février, puis en août 2021. Avec l'allègement des mesures sanitaires, la situation s'était sensiblement améliorée dans la région de Cayenne, mais deux ménages sur trois restaient impactés, avec des carences quantitatives et une diversité alimentaire insuffisante. La situation semblait particulièrement critique parmi les enfants. Au vu de cette situation, nous proposons de créer un observatoire de l'insécurité alimentaire en Guyane, tout en maintenant ce sujet en tête des priorités sanitaires. En outre, la lutte contre l'insécurité alimentaire ne peut se limiter à l'aide matérielle : la stratégie, multisectorielle, doit être pensée en globalité, intégrant les problématiques sanitaires et sociales, les enjeux de l'aménagement du territoire, de l'accès à la terre et à l'eau, de l'accès aux droits et à l'insertion sociale. Un ciblage juste des actions vers les publics les plus exposés et vulnérables est également un enjeu important, indépendamment de la situation administrative et du droit au séjour des personnes concernées.

Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of the Amazonian savannas of French Guiana with a description of two new species.

Amazonian savannas are among the most noteworthy landscape components of the coastal plain of French Guiana. Although they cover only 0.22% of the territory, they bring together a large part of the animal and plant diversity of this overseas region of France. This article outlines the results of the first study dedicated to mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of Amazonian savannas. Samplings were conducted in eight independent savannas evenly distributed along a transect of 170 km on the coastal plain of French Guiana. A total of 50 mosquito species were recorded, which is about 20% of the culicid fauna currently known in French Guiana. Among them, Culex (Melanoconion) organaboensis sp. nov. and Cx. (Mel.) zabanicus sp. nov. are newly described based on both morphological features of the male genitalia and a DNA barcode obtained from type specimens. Diagnostic characters to assist their identification are provided and their placement within the infrasubgeneric classification of the subgenus Melanoconion is discussed.

Social determinants of health among people working on informal gold mines in French Guiana: a multicentre cross-sectional survey.

INTRODUCTION: Social determinants of health, such as living and working conditions, economical and environmental context and access to care, combine to impact the health of individuals and communities. In French Guiana (FG), the persons working in informal artisanal and small-scale gold mining in the rainforest are a particularly vulnerable population which lives in precarious conditions and far from the health system. Previous studies have demonstrated their high morbidity due to infectious diseases. This study aims to describe the social determinants of health in this specific population. METHODS: This international multicentre cross-sectional survey included people working on the informal FG gold mines at the crossing points located at both borders with Suriname and Brazil. After collecting written informed consent, a structured questionnaire was administered. RESULTS: From September to December 2022, 539 gold miners were included. These poorly educated migrants, mainly from Brazil (99.1%) did not have access to drinkable water (95.4%), lived in close contact with wild fauna by hunting, eating bushmeat or being bitten and were exposed to mercury by inhalation (58.8%) or ingestion (80.5%). They report frequent accidents (13.5%) and chronic treatment interruptions (26.6% of the 11.9% reporting chronic treatment). Half of them considered themselves in good health (56.4%). CONCLUSION: This study shows a singular combination of adverse exposures of gold miners working in FG such as zoonoses, heavy metal poisoning, aggression of wild fauna. For ethical as well as public health reasons, actions towards health equity must be considered at different levels: individual, community, environmental, systemic and global level. As end users of minerals, we must assume our responsibilities for the well-being of the extractors by including health in political decisions to engage together in global health. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05540470.

Representations of COVID-19: the pandemic in the context of international commuting migration from mining.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the conceptions about COVID-19 among Brazilians who carry out commuting to work in clandestine mines located on the borders between Brazil, French Guiana and Suriname. METHOD: This is qualitative research, from an analytical perspective, based on Social Representation Theory. Semi-structured, audio-recorded interviews were carried out with 10 Brazilians who experience work routine in clandestine mining on the border between Brazil, French Guiana and Suriname. RESULTS: Two analytical categories emerged: "The disease of otherness"; and "Health access dimension". CONCLUSION: Disease severity was attributed to another or a human body organ, and not to individuals as a whole. Access to health services was established on issues of inequity, violence and illegal practices. The nature of a transient population, which carries out commuting and informal and clandestine work, demonstrates vulnerability to COVID-19 and a lower propensity to receive care.