Assessment of the Risk of Zoonotic Infections in Prisons in French Guiana

NCT07808775 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: CARYANA
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 450
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The prison system in French Guiana is characterized by severe overcrowding, high levels of promiscuity, poor sanitary conditions, and the documented presence of potential reservoirs or vectors of zoonotic diseases, particularly swallows and rodents. In French Guiana, several zoonotic diseases have a high incidence or are of particular public health significance, including Q fever, leptospirosis, Chagas disease, histoplasmosis, and toxoplasmosis. Despite this context, the risk of zoonotic diseases in prisons remains poorly documented, even though endemic and epidemic circulation of Q fever has already been described at the French Guiana correctional facility. This study aims to document this risk in a systematic and prospective manner. The main objective is to assess the prevalence of zoonotic infections (Q fever, leptospirosis, Chagas disease, histoplasmosis, and toxoplasmosis) among inmates at the French Guiana Correctional Facility in 2026-2027. The other objectives are :

• To measure the seroprevalence of zoonotic infections among new arrivals at the French Guiana correctional facility;
• To identify individual risk factors, both within and outside the prison, for acquiring zoonotic infections;
• To analyze the results in relation to bioclimatic data (wind direction, humidity, precipitation, temperature) The expected benefits will aim to objectively assess the risk of zoonotic diseases within the French Guiana correctional facility, to improve understanding of zoonoses in prison settings, to guide the implementation of appropriate prevention and screening measures, and to contribute to improving health conditions in detention. It should also strengthen cooperation between health and justice officials as part of an integrated approach to the prevention and management of infectious diseases.

Conditions

Q Fever; Leptospirosis; Chagas Disease; Histoplasmosis; Toxoplasmosis Infection

Keywords

French Guiana; Prison health; zoonotic infections; correctional facility; cohort study

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Incidence rate of zoonotic infections of interest (Q fever, leptospirosis, Chagas disease, histoplasmosis, toxoplasmosis) among participants who were seronegative for the infection in question at enrollment

  Number of new infections documented during follow-up divided by the person-time actually observed in detention at the correctional facility, from enrollment until the occurrence of the event, the last available visit, release, transfer, withdrawal of consent, or the end of follow-up at 12 months.

  Baseline, Month 4, Month 8, Month 12

Secondary Outcomes (10)

• Seroprevalence of Q fever at baseline

  At Baseline

• Seroprevalence of leptospirosis at baseline

  At Baseline

• Seroprevalence of Chagas disease at baseline

  At Baseline

• Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis at baseline

  At Baseline

• Risk factors for Q fever infection both inside and outside prison

  At Baseline, Month 4, Month 8 and Month 12

Study Arms (1)

Cohort participants

Adults aged more than 18, in retention since at least 15 days in the French Guiana correctional facility in Cayenne

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adults above 18 years old, incarcerated and housed at the French Guiana Correctional Facility for 15 days or less, from september 2026 to september 2028

You may qualify if:

• Adult aged 18 or older
• Incarcerated and housed at the French Guiana Correctional Facility for 15 days or less.

You may not qualify if:

• Refusing to participate in the study
• Pregnant women
• Had already participated in the study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne: lead
• European Founds for regional Developement (FEDER): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne

Cayenne, French Guiana, 97300, French Guiana

Location

Related Publications (7)

• Le Turnier P, Mosnier E, Schaub R, Bourhy P, Jolivet A, Cropet C, Villemant N, Trombert-Paolantoni S, Berlioz-Arthaud A, Nacher M, Demar M, Picardeau M, Djossou F, Epelboin L. Epidemiology of Human Leptospirosis in French Guiana (2007-2014): A Retrospective Study. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2018 Sep;99(3):590-596. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.17-0734. Epub 2018 Jul 19.

  PMID: 30039781 RESULT

• Thill P, Eldin C, Dahuron L, Berlioz-Artaud A, Demar M, Nacher M, Beillard E, Djossou F, Epelboin L. High endemicity of Q fever in French Guiana: A cross sectional study (2007-2017). PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2022 May 18;16(5):e0010349. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010349. eCollection 2022 May.

  PMID: 35584144 RESULT

• Bonifay T, Beillard E, Daniel M, Schiemsky V, Vierendeels E, Demar M, Pastre A, Hamiche K, Nacher M, Epelboin L. High incidence of acute Q fever among incarcerated people in Cayenne, French Guiana. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 2022 Jun 10;64:e42. doi: 10.1590/S1678-9946202264042. eCollection 2022.

  PMID: 35703611 RESULT

• Epelboin L, Chesnais C, Boulle C, Drogoul AS, Raoult D, Djossou F, Mahamat A. Q fever pneumonia in French Guiana: prevalence, risk factors, and prognostic score. Clin Infect Dis. 2012 Jul;55(1):67-74. doi: 10.1093/cid/cis288. Epub 2012 Mar 22.

  PMID: 22441648 RESULT

• Jolivet A, Cadot E, Florence S, Lesieur S, Lebas J, Chauvin P. Migrant health in French Guiana: are undocumented immigrants more vulnerable? BMC Public Health. 2012 Jan 19;12:53. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-53.

  PMID: 22260085 RESULT

• Huber F, Vandentorren S, Merceron A, Bonifay T, Pastre A, Lucarelli A, Nacher M. Returning to care after incarceration with HIV: the French Guianese experience. BMC Public Health. 2020 May 24;20(1):754. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-08772-9.

  PMID: 32448209 RESULT

• Huber F, Vandentorren S, Merceron A, Chaponnay A, Gadio G, About V, Pastre A, Nacher M. HIV-positive in the darkness of a correctional facility: more vulnerable and less treated. Int J STD AIDS. 2019 Apr;30(5):460-466. doi: 10.1177/0956462418816452. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

  PMID: 30630398 RESULT

Related Links

• Health Care for Individuals Under Judicial Supervision
• Report on the Second Visit to the Rémire-Montjoly Correctional Facility (French Guiana) by the General Inspector of Places of Deprivation of Liberty
• Profile and prognosis of people living with HIV, who were realeased from prison between 2007 and 2019 in French Guiana
• Infectious Diseases in French Guiana: The Last Bastion of French Tropical Medicine
• An Overview of Leptospirosis

Biospecimen

Retention: SAMPLES WITHOUT DNA

Serum samples

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Q Fever; Leptospirosis; Chagas Disease; Histoplasmosis; Zoonoses

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections; Bacterial Infections; Bacterial Infections and Mycoses; Infections; Spirochaetales Infections; Trypanosomiasis; Euglenozoa Infections; Protozoan Infections; Parasitic Diseases; Vector Borne Diseases; Mycoses; Animal Diseases

Study Officials

• Timothée Bonifay, MD

  Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne, Inserm CIC 1424 Guyane-Amazonie

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Central Study Contacts

Timothée Bonifay, MD

CONTACT

+33594395050; timothee.bonifay@chu-guyane.fr

Estelle Thomas, MPH

CONTACT

+33594395050; drci.promotion-cay@chu-guyane.fr

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Target Duration: 12 Months
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 2, 2026
• First Posted: September 9, 2026
• Study Start: October 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2028
• Last Updated: September 9, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

FR (1)