PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases (May 2022)

High endemicity of Q fever in French Guiana: A cross sectional study (2007-2017).

  • Pauline Thill,
  • Carole Eldin,
  • Laureen Dahuron,
  • Alain Berlioz-Artaud,
  • Magalie Demar,
  • Mathieu Nacher,
  • Emmanuel Beillard,
  • Félix Djossou,
  • Loïc Epelboin

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0010349
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 5
p. e0010349

Abstract

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Q fever (QF) is a zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii (Cb). French Guiana (FG) had a high incidence but no data have been published since 2006. The objective of this study was to update the incidence and epidemiological data on QF in FG. A retrospective study of all FG Q fever serodiagnosis between 2007 and 2017 was carried out. Among the 695 patients included, the M/F sex-ratio was 2.0 and the median age of 45.3 years (IQR 33.7-56.3). The annual QF incidence rate was 27.4 cases (95%CI: 7.1-47.7) per 100,000 inhabitants ranging from 5.2 in 2007 to 40.4 in 2010. Risk factors associated with Q fever compared to general population were male gender, being born in mainland France, an age between 30 to 59 years-old and a residence in Cayenne and surroundings. The incidence of QF in FG remains high and stable and the highest in the world.