French Guiana Research Articles

Infant mortality in French Guiana between 2001 and 2017 : Trends and comparisons with mainland France

BackgroundFrench Guiana is a French overseas territory which combines a well-funded universal health system and a population where half are under the poverty line. In this context, we aimed to measure and describe the causes of infant mortality and, because French Guiana is a French territory, to compare them with mainland France. MethodsNational death certificate data between 2001 and 2017 was used. ResultsOverall, 6.9 % of deaths before 65 years concerned infants <1 year (in mainland France 2.6%). The infant mortality rate over the 2001–2017 period was 2.6 times that of mainland France (1159.5 vs 446.2 per 100,000 infants <1 year) with excess incidence in perinatal causes, malformations and chromosomal anomalies, accidents, infectious causes, and in poorly defined conditions. Over time, there seemed to be a reduction of infant mortality for all the main causes, except for congenital malformations and chromosomal anomalies, which, on the contrary, seemed to increase. The data sources did not allow to study the weight of social factors or place of residence. ConclusionsAll causes of infant mortality seemed to decline over time except malformations and chromosomal anomalies, which increased. Although exposure to heavy metals, infectious diseases are potential explanations we cannot pinpoint the cause of this increase with the available data. The present results suggest infant mortality and malformations should benefit from more detailed data sources in order to better assess and alleviate the burden of infant mortality in French Guiana.

LoggingLab: An R package to simulate reduced-impact selective logging in tropical forests using forest inventory data

Even where Reduced-Impact Logging (RIL) practices are applied, selective logging causes substantial damage to tropical forests. To further reduce selective logging damage, the practices that cause the most damage need to be identified and alternatives tested. To this end, we developed the R package LoggingLab, a spatially-explicit and individual tree-based selective logging simulator and demonstrated its functions using data from French Guiana. LoggingLab explicitly simulates damage during each stage of the selective logging process taking into account topography and hydrography, which are main constraints on logging. Most LoggingLab parameters can be easily adjusted to a wide range of local contexts. LoggingLab can also be coupled with forest dynamics models to simulate the long- term effects of different selective logging scenarios.

Five new Camillea (Xylariales) species described from French Guiana

BackgroundThe genus Camillea was created in 1849 from collections made in French Guiana with eight species included. Numerous species assigned to Camillea were subsequently discovered, especially in the forests of the Amazon basin, but new discoveries have not been reported from French Guiana since 1849. Recent fieldwork in French Guiana has begun to fill this gap by identifying five new species, most of which were collected in the vicinity of Saül village.ResultsBased on macro- and micromorphological study of their stromata, including SEM images of ascospore wall ornamentation, five new species were recognized, including C. cribellum, C. heterostomoides, C. nitida, C. rogersii and C. saulensis. Cultures could be obtained for C. heterostomoides and C. rogersii, and ITS and LSU sequences were obtained for all of the five new species. Camillea heterostoma and its variety microspora were shown to be conspecific. Provisional molecular phylogenetic analyses support the possible reinstatement of Hypoxylon melanaspis, currently regarded as merely an applanate form of C. leprieurii.ConclusionThe current study is based on a relatively limited fieldwork in its duration and sampling area but was able to substantially increase the number of Camillea species known from French Guiana. This augurs an exceptional and still unknown diversity of the genus in this area and by extension in the adjacent neotropical forests.

Glironia venusta (Thomas, 1912) (Didelphidae) reaches the Atlantic! New records in French Guiana, with notes on behaviour

We report observations of Glironia venusta Thomas, 1912, Bushy-tailed Opossum, from coastal French Guiana, expanding the distribution of this species 300 km north of its previously known range.

Urbanization and Water Containers Influence the Mosquito Community with Consequences for Aedes aegypti.

We aimed to determine how the degree of urbanization in a Neotropical city influences Aedes aegypti (L.), a pantropical vector of urban yellow fever, dengue, Zika and Chikungunia, via other mosquito species, whether they are competitors or predators, native to the area or invasive. We conducted experiments twice a month during one year in the city of Kourou, French Guiana, on three sites characterized by increasing percentages of imperviousness (i.e., 0.65%, 33.80% and 86.60%). These sites were located in a ≈5ha forest fragment, a residential area with gardens, and in the older part of the city, respectively, and correspond to slightly, moderately and highly urbanized sites. There, we monitored twice a month during one year a total of 108 mosquito communities inhabiting four types of containers (i.e., a tank bromeliad, dry stumps of bamboo, ovitraps and car tires) installed in a random block design. In the tanks of the bromeliad, likely due to the acidity of the water, the immatures of native mosquito species prevailed, particularly Wyeomyia pertinans (Williston) in the slightly urbanized site. The general pattern was very similar in the three other types of containers where Limatus durhamii Théobald dominated in the slightly urbanized site, so that the abundance of Ae. aegypti immatures was low compared to those of native species. Yet, Ae. aegypti strongly dominated in the two more urbanized sites. These findings open up perspectives for vector management, including the conservation and/or the augmentation of natural enemies through modifications to landscape features.

Factors associated with chronic kidney disease in patients with diabetes in French Guiana.

With over half of the population living under the poverty threshold, the social and health context in French Guiana is more difficult than in mainland France. The prevalence of diabetes is twice as great and end-stage renal failure is 45% higher than in mainland France. Our objective was to describe the profile of diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease in French Guiana and search for possible risk factors. We conducted a multicenter cross-sectional observational study based on the CODIAM cohort (Cohort of Diabetes in French Amazonia). We analyzed 1,287 patients followed up between May 2019 and June 2021 at Cayenne Hospital, Saint Laurent Hospital, and delocalized health centers. In our cohort, chronic kidney disease was present after an average of 12 years of diabetes. Compared with the French population, 41% of diabetic patients had chronic kidney disease (i.e., 12% more), and had an average age of 56 years (i.e., 10 years younger). Forty-eight per cent of these patients were obese (i.e., 7% more). Seventy-four per cent of patients were precarious and 45% were foreigners but neither was associated with chronic kidney disease, contrary to countries where the health system is not universal. Screening of patients with chronic kidney disease among diabetics in French Guiana remains a real challenge. Patients were younger and more obese than in other French territories. In this cohort, precariousness and immigration were not associated with the presence of chronic kidney disease. However, particular attention should be paid to hypertensive patients and those over 65 years of age, which are, with diabetes itself, the two most obvious risk factors for developing chronic kidney disease among diabetic patients in our territory.

Causes and consequences of fever in Amazonian pregnant women: A large retrospective study from French Guiana.

The aim of this study was to describe different causes and consequences of fever during pregnancy in Western French Guiana and along the Maroni River. A retrospective single-center study including all patients with a history of documented fever ≥ 38°C during pregnancy at the West French Guiana Hospital for 9 years. Postpartum fever and nosocomial infections were excluded. We focused on medical history and on clinical and biological findings. Causes were characterized as confirmed or uncertain and then classified as preventable or non-preventable. A total of 940 pregnant women who experienced at least one episode of fever were included and compared to 23,811 deliveries who occurred during the same period without documented fever. Among them, 43.7% (411/940) were in labor. About 3.7% (35/940) of febrile pregnant women had at least two episodes of fever, while 0.3% (3/940) had a coinfection at the time of diagnosis, resulting in a total of 978 febrile episodes. Among them, causes remained unknown or uncertain in 7.6% (75/978) and 0.9% (9/978) of cases, respectively. Among confirmed causes of fever throughout pregnancy (n = 483), the most common known cause was arbovirus infection (146/483, 30.2%), followed by urinary tract infection (134/483, 27.7%), chickenpox (27/483, 5.6%), and gastrointestinal (14/483, 2.9%) and pulmonary infections (10/483, 2%). Mothers with fever had a higher risk of cesarean section (19.8% vs 15.5%, aOR 1.3 [95% CI 1.14-1.6], stillbirth (5.5% versus 1.9%, aOR 2.7 [95% CI 2-3.7]), and preterm delivery < 34 weeks of gestation (7.2% vs 4.7%, aOR 1.5 [95% CI 1.2-2]. In the Amazon region, causes of fever are diverse and often associated with epidemic waves, notably arboviruses. This must be considered when exploring possible causes of fever during pregnancy in these localities, including fetal anomalies and/or fetal loss. Physicians should consider the epidemiological context and avoid generalizations. Given the impact of emergent agents such as arboviruses on pregnancy, particular attention must be paid to the epidemiological context. This study can also help clinicians when managing fever in pregnant travelers or in their partner after having visited exposed areas. In this context, fetal abnormalities and adverse obstetric outcomes should be explored accordingly.

Access to health care for migrants in French Guiana in 2022: a qualitative study of health care system actors.

Access to health care is a major public health issue. The social determinants of health have a role in accessing health care and in meeting the health needs of populations. With 281 million international migrants around the world, population movements are another major issue. Migrants are particularly exposed to precariousness during their migratory journey and after their settlement. These vulnerabilities may have deleterious effects on their health status and on their social conditions. In French Guiana, 36% of the population is of foreign origin. The objective of this study is to explore the barriers and the facilitators to accessing health care for migrants in French Guiana in 2022, from the perspective of health care professionals, social workers and local NGO actors. This research is an exploratory qualitative study based on the experiential knowledge of health care professionals, social workers and local NGO actors in French Guiana. 25 semi-structured interviews were conducted with these professionals and actors between April and June 2022, using an interview guide to explore their practices, representations and beliefs of access to health care and accompaniment of migrants in their patient journey. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using the thematic analysis method. A total of 25 health care professionals, social workers and local NGO actors were included in the study. Participants highlighted that migrants are exposed to many factors hindering their access to health care in French Guiana (administrative complexity, language barriers, financial barriers, mobility issues, etc.). With the situations of great precariousness and the inadequacies of the public authorities, associative support (social, health and legal accompaniment process provided by NGOs and associations) has an important role in providing close support to migrants. Moreover, health mediation supports migrants in their social and health care journey to lead them toward empowerment. Health mediators contribute to promote a better understanding between professionals and migrants. In French Guiana, associative support and health mediation promote access to health care and social accompaniment for migrants. This article highlights the issues surrounding access to health care, associative support and health mediation in the Guianese context, which is marked by significant socio-cultural diversity and precariousness. Considering the benefits of associative support and health mediation, as well as social inequalities in health, is essential for health care professionals, social workers, local NGO actors, associations, public health authorities and political decision-makers to initiate concrete and suitable actions in favor of access to health care and social support for migrants in French Guiana.

Validation results on future flight safety methods to be instituted at the Guiana Space Center -New Generation

In the very short term, the European Spaceport in French Guiana (CSG) will welcome new kinds of missions and launchers, such as Ariane 6, micro-launchers or reusable vehicles, and must prepare to operate them. At the same time, the launch safety process must be improved in order to maintain flight safety standards and to respect the requirements of the French Space Operation Act (FSOA [1]) regarding the new risks induced. The Flight Safety Department at CSG has been working on the development of new methods to fit these upcoming challenges while enabling the best possible protection to people, the environment and infrastructures. These concepts will be implemented with the arrival of the new Operations Centre (CDO).Although the flight termination decision remains on a human authority, the process to evaluate the dangerousness of a mission is optimized in order to gain reactivity and effectiveness. As presented at the 73rd IAC [2], this optimization of methods relies on both decreasing the number of operators within the flight safety team during launch operations and on implementing decision-aiding algorithms to better characterize the launcher condition status at any time. This implies a new distribution of the responsibilities between the safety operators and a redesign of the systems in the future organization at CSG.A large test campaign has already been conducted with the participation of all flight safety officers in order to collect data covering different fields [2]: personal and collective impressions, level of comfort, trust in the new concepts and comparison to the current process, amongst others. In follow-up of this study, to consolidate and validate the operability of the presented concepts and methods, the impacts of this new organization on the flight safety officers have been evaluated in order to apprehend the main changes compared to the current organization. In addition, a specific evaluation was performed in order to study the operator behaviour during various simulations of dangerous-case scenarios in which the launcher trajectory or on-board parameters deteriorated. The most critical cases were analysed in order to measure the reaction times before terminating the flight, with respect to different configurations of launcher abnormality. When comparing the behaviour and the reaction time of operators between the current and the future organization, we obtained conclusive results that are presented in this paper. These results will help to determine and demonstrate the efficiency of the new suggested method for the future flight safety organization at the CSG New Generation. The test campaign presented in this paper was possible following significant ergonomics choices regarding both the flight safety room configuration and the operator HMI layout. Indeed, the enhancement of flight safety operations has been enabled by a careful selection of decision-aiding algorithms and logical equations, however the study determining the most adequate position of HMI elements has also played a major role in the safety officers’ ability to operate the new concepts.This paper will present the results of the test campaign based on initial ergonomic studies enabling this major change in the organization of the flight safety team within the future CSG.

Impact of piperaquine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum on malaria treatment effectiveness in The Guianas: a descriptive epidemiological study

Plasmodium falciparum is an apicomplexan parasite responsible for lethal cases of malaria. According to WHO recommendations, P falciparum cases are treated with artemisinin-based combination therapy including dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine. However, the emergence of resistant parasites against dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine was reported in southeast Asia in 2008 and, a few years later, suspected in South America. To characterise resistance emergence, a treatment efficacy study was performed on the reported patients infected with P falciparum and treated with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine in French Guiana (n=6, 2016-18). Contemporary isolates collected in French Guiana were genotyped for P falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (pfCRT; n=845) and pfpm2 and pfpm3 copy number (n=231), phenotyped using the in vitro piperaquine survival assay (n=86), and analysed through genomic studies (n=50). Additional samples from five Amazonian countries and one outside the region were genotyped (n=1440). In field isolates, 40 (47%) of 86 (95% CI 35·9-57·1) were resistant to piperaquine in vitro; these phenotypes were more associated with pfCRTC350R (ie, Cys350Arg) and pfpm2 and pfpm3 amplifications (Dunn test, p<0·001). Those markers were also associated with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine treatment failure (n=3 [50%] of 6). A high prevalence of piperaquine resistance markers was observed in Suriname in 19 (83%) of 35 isolates and in Guyana in 579 (73%) of 791 isolates. The pfCRTC350R mutation emerged before pfpm2 and pfpm3 amplification in a temporal sequence different from southeast Asia, and in the absence of artemisinin partial resistance, suggesting a geographically distinctive epistatic relationship between these genetic markers. The high prevalence of piperaquine resistance markers in parasite populations of the Guianas, and the risk of associated therapeutic failures calls for caution on dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine use in the region. Furthermore, greater attention should be given to potential differences in genotype to phenotype mapping across genetically distinct parasite populations from different continents. Pan American Health Organization and WHO, French Ministry for Research, European Commission, Santé publique France, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas, Ministry of Health of Brazil, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, and National Institutes of Health. For the French and Portuguese translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Pulmonary Histoplasmosis in People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in French Guiana: Clinical Epidemiology, Medical Imaging and Prognostic

BackgroundHistoplasmosis is mainly described as a disseminated disease in people living with HIV (PLHIV). Compared to historical descriptions in immunocompetent individuals, knowledge is lacking on the detailed clinical and radiological findings and outcomes of pulmonary histoplasmosis (PH). Overlooked or misdiagnosed with other AIDS-defining condition, prognostic of PLHIV may be at risk because of inappropriate care.MethodsA retrospective multicentric study was conducted in PLHIV from French Guiana between January 1988 and October 2019. Proven PH were documented through mycological direct examination, culture, or histology. Patients with concomitant respiratory infections were excluded.ResultsAmong 65 patients, sex ratio M:F was 2.4 with a median age of 39 years [IQR 25–75%: 34–44]. Median CD4 count was 24 cells/mm3 [11–71], with histoplasmosis as the AIDS-defining condition in 88% and concomitant AIDS-defining conditions in 29%. Clinical findings were fever (89%), cough (58%), dyspnea (35%), expectoration (14%), and hemoptysis (5%). Sixty-one X-rays and 24 CT-scans were performed. On X-rays, an interstitial lung disease was mainly found (77%). On CT-scans, a nodular pattern was predominant (83%): mostly miliary disease (63%), but also excavated nodules (35%). Consolidations were present in 46%, associated with miliary disease in 21%. Thoracic lymphadenopathies were found in 58%, mainly hilar and symmetric (33%). Despite antifungal treatment, case-fatality rate at one month was 22%.ConclusionWhen faced with an interstitial lung disease on X-rays or a miliary pattern on CT-scans in advanced PLHIV, physicians in endemic areas, apart from tuberculosis or pneumocystosis, should include histoplasmosis as part of their differential diagnoses.

Fungal Density in Lobomycosis in French Guiana: A Proposal for a New Clinico-Histological and Therapeutic Classification.

Lobomycosis is a rare cutaneous tropical neglected disease caused by the fungal agent Lacazia loboi, recently renamed Paracoccidioides lobogeorgii. Our objectives were to present all cases of lobomycosis diagnosed in French Guiana, to offer a precise description of their histopathological features and to propose a new clinico-histological prognostic classification. All cases of lobomycosis diagnosed in French Guiana between 1959 and 2022 were included. We looked for associations between the occurrence of relapses and the clinic-histological form. 31 patients diagnosed with lobomycosis were included. An epidemiological shift was observed in the 2000s as Brazilian patients became the most important ethnic group. Gold mining, forestry and fishing/sailing were reported as professional exposures. New histological features, such as inflammatory "rosettes" formations were described. We describe two clinic-histological patterns: a major form (high fungal density and/or multifocal lesions) and a minor form (low fungal density, unifocal lesions, association with fewer relapses). The changing epidemiology of lobomycosis in French Guiana is characterized by a shift towards Brazilian patients, mostly gold miners. Minor forms should be treated with surgery, major forms with a combination of surgery followed by nultiple drug therapy (MDT) or posaconazole.

Genetic structure and kdr mutations in Aedes aegypti populations along a road crossing the Amazon Forest in Amapá State, Brazil

Insecticide resistance in Aedes aegypti poses a significant threat to disease control. One form of resistance, caused by kdr mutations in the NaV gene, hinders vector control efforts in Brazil. Despite genetic differences typically accumulating among isolated populations, this mosquito can actively and passively disperse through human transportation. Our study investigated the genetic structure and spread of kdr mutations in Ae. aegypti populations across six localities in Amapá State, Brazil, within the Amazonian Forest. Using 12 microsatellite loci and qPCR methods, we assessed genetic structure and identified three common kdr mutations (V410L, V1016I, and F1534C). High prevalence of kdr alleles was observed in all localities, indicating widespread distribution in Amapá State. Microsatellite analysis revealed differentiation among mosquito populations, dividing them into two distinct clusters supported by Bayesian and DAPC analyses. Oiapoque, located along the northern border with French Guiana, exhibited the highest kdr frequencies and genetic differentiation compared to other localities. Our findings suggest genetic structure in Ae. aegypti populations in Amapá State, with some passive gene flow between clusters. The study underscores the need for continuous surveillance of Ae. aegypti populations to monitor the spread of insecticide resistance and inform effective vector control strategies.

The known species of the genus Achagua Rindge, 1983, with the description of three new species from the Neotropics (Geometridae: Ennominae).

The previously monotypic geometrid genus Achagua (Ennominae: Nacophorini) is reviewed following the discovery of three undescribed species. New species are as follows: A. cooperae n. sp. described from Costa Rica, A. magna n. sp. described from Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; and Achagua velata n. sp. described from French Guiana. Available COI barcode data is briefly reviewed, and adult and genitalic illustrations are provided for each of the four known species.

Illustrated key to the species in the genus Laminiceps Costa, 1863 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Coreidae: Acanthocephalini), with descriptions of twelve new species.

The genus Laminiceps Costa, 1863 (Coreidae: Acanthocephalini) is redescribed, and 12 new species are described: L. aburtonia (Brazil), L. curiosus (French Guiana), L. eustoliana (Paraguay), L. excelsus (Peru), L. factiosus (Brazil), L. fundatus (Trinidad), L. gelidus (Brazil), L. genuinus (Peru), L. halatus (Brazil), L. infrequens (Brazil), L. lentus (Venezuela), and L. navus (Bolivia). A revised key to all 30 species is included. Dorsal and lateral photos of all species are provided as well as photos of male genital capsules and parameres where available.

New Feature Selection Approach for Photovoltaïc Power Forecasting Using KCDE

Feature selection helps improve the accuracy and computational time of solar forecasting. However, FS is often passed by or conducted with methods that do not suit the solar forecasting issue, such as filter or linear methods. In this study, we propose a wrapper method termed Sequential Forward Selection (SFS), with a Kernel Conditional Density Estimator (KCDE) named SFS-KCDE, as FS to forecast day-ahead regional PV power production in French Guiana. This method was compared to three other FS methods used in earlier studies: the Pearson correlation method, the RReliefF (RRF) method, and SFS using a linear regression. It has been shown that SFS-KCDE outperforms other FS methods, particularly for overcast sky conditions. Moreover, Wrapper methods show better forecasting performance than filter methods and should be used.

Foliar elementome and functional traits relationships identify tree species niche in French Guiana rainforests.

Biogeochemical niche hypothesis (BN) aims to relate species/genotype elemental composition with its niche based on the fact that different elements are involved differentially in distinct plant functions. We here test the BN hypothesis through the analysis of the 10 foliar elemental concentrations and 20 functional-morphological of 60 tree species in a French Guiana tropical forest. We observed strong legacy (phylogenic+species) signals in the species-specific foliar elemental composition (elementome) and, for the first time, provide empirical evidence for a relationship between species-specific foliar elementome and functional traits. Our study thus supports the BN hypothesis and confirms the general niche segregation process through which the species-specific use of bio-elements drives the high levels of α-diversity in this tropical forest. We show that the simple analysis of foliar elementomes may be used to test for BNs of co-occurring species in highly diverse ecosystems, such as tropical rainforests. Although cause and effect mechanisms of leaf functional and morphological traits in species-specific use of bio-elements require confirmation, we posit the hypothesis that divergences in functional-morphological niches and species-specific biogeochemical use are likely to have co-evolved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Subspecies‐level distribution maps for birds of the Amazon basin and adjacent areas

AbstractAimDistribution maps for Amazonian birds are often limited to species‐level taxonomy even though many subspecies represent biological species. We provide digital maps depicting subspecies‐level distributions of Neotropical birds in the Amazonas River basin and adjoining areas.LocationAmazon region, which includes the entire Amazon basin, the east slope of the tropical Andes, French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, south Venezuela (Bolivar and Amazonas departments), parts of the Brazilian Cerrado and the Araguaia‐Tocantins basin.TaxonBirds (Class Aves).MethodsTo build the distribution maps, we compiled a point‐locality database of 620,000 records, 90% of which represent specimens vouchered in research collections. After manually cleaning and optimising the quality of the point localities, we generated extent‐of‐occurrence polygons at the subspecies level using a concave hull function. We corrected each polygon based on the literature and expert knowledge. We used this data set to define zoogeographical regions based on multidimensional scaling and clustering analyses, and then compared subspecies‐defined regions to zoogeographic regions inferred from species‐level data.ResultsWe inferred range polygons for 3990 subspecies, representing 2043 species from 65 families. The average distribution size was 955,739 km2, with half of the taxa having range sizes smaller than 230,484 km2 (median value) and nearly one‐quarter of all subspecies having ranges smaller than 50,000 km2. We identified 10 zoogeographical regions from the subspecies data set in comparison with four areas based on a species‐level analysis of the same data. The 10 zoogeographical regions are largely congruent with previously identified areas of endemism.Main ConclusionsThe new maps of Amazonian bird subspecies distributions allow biodiversity studies (e.g. macroecology, evolution, and conservation) to be conducted at the subspecies level, and facilitate biogeographic, ecological, evolutionary and conservation research on birds in the most biologically diverse region in the world.

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.

Fruit and seed traits and vertebrate-fruit interactions of tree species occurring in Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.

Seed dispersal is widely considered an important mechanism for the conservation of plant diversity. In tropical regions, over 80% of woody plant species are dispersed by vertebrates, often through the consumption of fruits. Our understanding of what drives interactions between vertebrates and fruits is limited. Through a systematic literature search, we compiled a database of fruit and seed traits and vertebrate-fruit interactions for tree and vertebrate species occurring in the Guianas, with the aim of facilitating research into seed dispersal and seed predation of tree species in the Guianas. The database was compiled by extracting data from 264 published sources. It consists of 21,082 records, of which 19,039 records contain information about 19 different fruit and seed traits belonging to 1622 different tree species. The other 2043 records contain information on vertebrate-fruit interactions between 161 vertebrate species and 464 tree species. Our analyses showed a taxonomic bias, particularly in the interaction data, toward large-bodied vertebrates, with most interactions recorded for the bearded saki (Chiropotes chiropotes), followed by the lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris). For plants we found an overrepresentation of the Sapotaceae and Moraceae families and an underrepresentation of the Rubiaceae, Myrtaceae, and Lauraceae families in the interactions. There are no copyright restrictions on the data set; please cite this publication when using these data.