Epidemiology of histoplasmosis in the French West Indies (Martinique)

The Caribbean islands are presumed to be an endemic zone for Histoplasma capsulatum infection, but no epidemiological studies have been done in this area. Our purpose was to report the epidemiology of histoplasmosis from 1991 to 1997 in the French West Indies (Martinique). Cases identified from the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 1999-05, Vol.93 (3), p.264-267
Main Authors: Garsaud, Philippe, Boisseau-Garsaud, Anne-Marie, Desbois, Nicole, Verneuil, Laurence, Calès-Quist, Danielle, Hélénon, Raymond, Jouannelle, Alain, Delord, Jean-Marie, Sobesky, Guy, Panelatti, Gérard
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - epidemiology
Adult
AIDS
AIDS/HIV
Biological and medical sciences
clinical aspects
Dermatomycoses - epidemiology
Dermatomycoses - microbiology
epidemiology
Female
Histoplasma capsulatum
Histoplasmoses
histoplasmosis
Histoplasmosis - epidemiology
Histoplasmosis - pathology
HIV infections
Human mycoses
Humans
Incidence
Infectious diseases
Male
Martinique
Martinique - epidemiology
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Mycoses
Retrospective Studies
Tropical medicine
Tropical mycoses
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Summary:The Caribbean islands are presumed to be an endemic zone for Histoplasma capsulatum infection, but no epidemiological studies have been done in this area. Our purpose was to report the epidemiology of histoplasmosis from 1991 to 1997 in the French West Indies (Martinique). Cases identified from the register of the mycology laboratory were analysed retrospectively. Ten cases (9 male and 1 female) were identified; 8 of the patients were infected with HIV (average T4 lymphocyte count in these 8 patients was 32/mm 3). Eight patients had cutaneous involvement. The incidence in AIDS patients was 1·7%. The annual incidence in the general population was 0·34 100000 . Our data showed that histoplasmosis is endemic in Martinique, with an incidence in AIDS patients slightly inferior to that in endemic areas of the USA. The high rate of cutaneous forms (80%) is uncommon.
ISSN:0035-9203
1878-3503
DOI:10.1016/S0035-9203(99)90016-0