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Disseminated histoplasmosis is the most frequent acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-defining illness in French Guiana. Paradoxically, central nervous system (CNS) involvement has been scarcely described. We aimed to identify CNS histoplasmosis in our territory. We conducted an observational, multicentric, descriptive, and retrospective study including patients with proven or probable CNS histoplasmosis according to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Invasive Fungal Infections Cooperative Group and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MGS). The study population consisted of patients admitted in one of the hospitals of French Guiana between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 2019. During the study period, 390 cases of HIV-associated histoplasmosis were recorded, in which six of them had CNS infections with Histoplasma capsulatum. The male to female sex ratio was 0.25, and the median age at diagnosis was 37.5 years. The median CD4 count was 42 cells/mm3 ([IQR: 29-60]). All patients had disseminated histoplasmosis. Usual signs of meningitis were observed in three patients and focal signs in four patients. One patient had no neurological signs. The median time between the first cerebral symptoms and diagnosis was 22.4 days (IQR 9.5-36.2). Two patients died within a month after diagnosis. In conclusion, few proven CNS localizations of histoplasmosis were observed on 30-year study in French Guiana. This low proportion suggests that the documentation of CNS involvement is often not ascertained for lack of awareness of this particular presentation, and for lack of rapid and sensitive diagnostic tools.

AbstractAnti-leishmaniasis drug resistance is a common problem worldwide. The aim of this study was to inventory the general in vitro level of sensitivity of Leishmania isolates circulating in French Guiana and to highlight potential in vitro pentamidine-resistant isolates. This sensitivity study was conducted on 36 patient-promastigote isolates for seven drugs (amphotericin B, azithromycin, fluconazole, meglumine antimoniate, miltefosine, paromomycin, and pentamidine) using the Cell Counting Kit-8 viability test. The IC 50 values obtained were heterogeneous. One isolate exhibited high IC 50 values for almost all drugs tested. Pentamidine, which is the first-line treatment in French Guiana, showed efficacy at very low doses (mean of 0.0038 μg/mL). The concordance of the in vitro pentamidine results with the patients' clinical outcomes was 94% ( K = 0.82).

In South America, the presence of the Leishmania RNA virus type 1 (LRV1) was described in Leishmania guyanensis and Leishmania braziliensis strains. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence distribution of LRV1 in Leishmania isolates in French Guiana given that, in this French overseas department, most Leishmania infections are due to these parasite species. The presence of the virus was observed in 74% of Leishmania spp. isolates, with a highest presence in the internal areas of the country., (© The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.)

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated disseminated Histoplasma capsulatum capsulatum infection often mimics tuberculosis. This disease is well know in the United States but is dramatically underdiagnosed in Central and South America. In the Amazon region, given the available incidence data and the regional HIV prevalence, it is expected that, every year, 1,500 cases of histoplasmosis affect HIV patients in that region alone. Given the mortality in undiagnosed patients, at least 600 patients would be expected to die from an undiagnosed but treatable disease. The lack of a simple diagnostic tool and the lack of awareness by clinicians spiral in a vicious cycle and made a major problem invisible for 30 years. The HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome community should tackle this problem now to prevent numerous avoidable deaths from HIV-associated histoplasmosis in the region and elsewhere.

Histoplasmosis is the first cause of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related deaths in French Guiana. Cohort data were used to determine whether primary prophylaxis with 100 mg itraconazole for patients with CD4 counts < 150/mm(3) was cost-effective with different scenarios. For a scenario where 12% of patients died, 60% were aware of their human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and adherence was only 50%, primary prophylaxis would prevent 1 death and 9 cases of histoplasmosis for a cost of 36,792 Euros per averted death, 1,533 per life-year saved, 4,415 Euros per averted case, when only counting the costs of itraconazole prophylaxis. Taking into account the total costs of hospitalization showed that primary prophylaxis would allow a savings of 185,178 Euros per year. Even in a scenario of low adherence, primary prophylaxis would be cost-effective in French Guiana, and presumably in the rest of the Guianas and the Amazon.

To study the link between climatic variables and the incidence of leishmaniasis a study was conducted in Cayenne, French Guiana. Patients infected between January 1994 and December 2010. Meteorological data were studied in relation to the incidence of leishmaniasis using an ARIMA model. In the final model, the infections were negatively correlated with rainfall (with a 2-month lag) and with the number of days with rainfall > 50 mm (lags of 4 and 7 months). The variables that were positively correlated were temperature and the Multivariate El Niño Southern Oscillation Index with lags of 8 and 4 months, respectively. Significantly greater correlations were observed in March for rainfall and in November for the Multivariate El Niño/Southern Oscillation Index. Climate thus seems to be a non-negligible explanatory variable for the fluctuations of leishmaniasis. A decrease in rainfall is linked to increased cases 2 months later. This easily perceptible point could lead to an interesting prevention message.

French Guiana, the French territory most affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (1.3% of pregnant women), is also endemic for human T lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV1). The objective of this study was to determine if the HTLV1/HIV coinfected patients had particular characteristics. All HIV-infected patients having a computerized medical file containing an HTLV1 serology were included: there were 1,333 HIV monoinfections and 76 HTLV1/VIH coinfections. The prevalence of HTLV1/HIV coinfections was 5.39%. Women (odds ratio [OR] = 1.91[1.13-3.24]), subjects > 40 years of age, and patients of Surinamese origin (OR = 2.65 [1.25-5.61]) were overrepresented among the coinfected. CD4 count at the time of diagnosis and viral loads were higher among coinfected patients. The clinical stage was not significantly different between the two groups. The number of CD4 cells was not higher among the coinfected, unlike most reports from the literature. Prevalence of HTLV1 among HIV-infected patients is high in French Guiana, and physicians seem to omit the prescription of serology for this potentially serious coinfection.

The variables influencing the interval between diagnosis and effective access to specialized care were studied in a cohort of 2,661 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients in French Guiana between 1992 and 2008. Patients with a subsequent follow-up interruption were significantly more likely to have a delayed first consultation after the HIV diagnosis. Ordinal logistic regression showed that younger persons, women, and French citizens were independently associated with greater delays between the HIV diagnosis and the first specialized consultation. However, persons with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were less likely to have a delay between the HIV diagnosis and the first specialized consultation. Focusing on the link between the private sector and specialized health care may shorten delays and improve care and follow-up.

The pathogen ecology of Amazonian regions may lead to specific differences in the most frequent clinical presentations of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). A retrospective cohort study was thus conducted to describe the main AIDS-defining events in French Guiana. Disseminated histoplasmosis was the most frequent opportunistic infection (15.4/1000 person years).

French Guiana is the region of France where the HIV epidemic is most prevalent. To determine the risk factors for being lost for follow-up, we followed a cohort of 1,213 patients between 1992 and 2002 and determined which variables were related to two definitions of being lost to follow-up: permanently disappearing from HIV clinics and coming back after more than 1 year of missed appointments. The incidence rate for permanent follow-up interruption was 17.2 per 100 person-years. The median time to lost to follow-up was 4.3 years (interquartile range = 1.4-8.4 years). Cox modeling showed that the younger age groups, foreigners, patients with initial CD4 counts at the time of HIV diagnosis less than 500/mm3, and patients followed before the availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) were significantly more likely to be permanently lost to follow-up, suggesting that some of the patients may have died. When looking at temporary loss to follow-up, younger age groups, untreated patients, patients consulting before the availability of HAART, and patients with CD4 counts more than 500/mm3 were more likely to not come back for a period of more than 1 year.

Disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis is characterized by the presence of a large (> or =10) number of lesions at several anatomic sites (head, limbs, and trunk). Most of the lesions are small, papular, and appear simultaneously with or secondarily to one or several ulcerated lesions of localized cutaneous leishmaniasis. We report the first case of disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis in French Guiana. It concerns a 24-year-old woman who tested negative for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The disease began with three lesions that became ulcerated. One week later, multiple papulo-nodular lesions appeared. We counted a total of 425 lesions. Leishmania were observed in the lesions. The species involved was L. guyanensis, which has never been described in a case of disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis. The patient was rapidly cured by a single course of pentamidine. Disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis should be distinguished from other types of leishmaniasis with multiple lesions. These include anergic diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis, post-kala-azar leishmaniasis, and leishmaniasis associated with HIV infection.