Q Fever

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.

RACSMEI addresses the high burden of infectious diseases in low- and middle-income countries, including Cambodia, where limited surveillance and laboratory capacity often obscure etiologies and transmission dynamics. This knowledge gap hinders the design of effective prevention and control strategies. RACSMEI will improve understanding across multiple pathogens using a multidisciplinary One Health approach. We will answer key questions on burden, ecology, transmission and population immune status to inform targeted and culturally appropriate interventions. The project combines a nationally representative One Health survey, social-science methods, and multiplex, diverse diagnostics to efficiently test for 57 priority pathogens, including zoonotic and vector-borne agents, vaccine-preventable and elimination-targeted diseases, enteric, respiratory, and environmentally transmitted pathogens and selected neglected tropical diseases and parasites relevant to Cambodia. Mathematical modelling will reconstruct and forecast transmission dynamics and assess the potential impact of future public-health strategies. By integrating intersectoral data and innovative methods, RACSMEI will generate actionable evidence for public-health authorities, support precision One Health interventions, and help reduce disease burden in affected communities. The project also aims to ensure the transferability of methods and insights to other countries facing similar challenges.

Zoonoses and arboviroses refer to a group of diseases transmitted from animals to humans, either directly or indirectly (via mosquitoes, ticks or contact with contaminated environments). Most of these diseases are found in certain tropical zones, but global warming and increased international trade are modifying their geographical distribution, with a gradual trend towards temperate regions. A number of these pathogens have already been detected in Occitania, including dengue fever, West Nile, leishmaniasis and Q fever. Given the region's high mosquito population and favorable climatic conditions, other zoonoses have a strong potential to appear in the region, or may already be circulating at a low level. The study focuses on 18 pathogens selected for their potential to emerge and establish themselves in the Occitanie region: Leishmaniasis, Leptospirosis, Brucellosis, Q fever, Rickettsiosis, Tularemia, Psittacosis, Lyme disease, Tick-borne encephalitis, Hantavirus, Hepatitis E virus, Dengue virus, Zika virus, Chikungunya virus, West-Nile virus, Usutu virus, Toscana virus, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus. The aim of the study is to find out whether patients have antibodies against these infectious agents, which would indicate that they have been exposed to them in the past, even in the absence of symptoms. Describing the circulation of these pathogens will enable to implement appropriate public health measures to avoid the risk of epidemics (mosquito control, informing professionals, etc.), as well as to assess the risk incurred in the workplace and have this risk recognized by the healthcare system.