The exponential increase of population and the extension of built-up areas in the forests of French Guiana multiply contacts between humans and wildlife. In the Amazon, wild species have a reputation of being hostile to humans. Although they lead to serious injuries in a minority of cases, these aggressions frequently lead to medical consultation in the emergency department (ED). The aims of our study is to describe the epidemiology and the management of humans-wildlife contacts in the Cayenne ED.

We conducted a retrospective descriptive observational study from January 1 to December 31, 2019, including all victims of wildlife contacts managed by the Cayenne Hospital ED. Contextual data and clinical data of the patients as well as data of the victims’ management were collected.

During the year of 2019, 402 patients describing wildlife contacts were admitted to the ED. The M/F sex ratio was 1:7 and the median age was 32y (16 - 49). The most involved animal class was hymenoptera (26%), followed by unspecified invertebrates (20%), snakes (16%) and scorpions (12%). The topography of lesions concerned the lower limbs in 43% of cases. Signs of anaphylaxis were described in 4% of patients ; 8% of patients presented neurological issues, and 8% presented digestive issues. A disturbed biological balance was found in 15% of patients. From the clinical and biological data, we counted 92 patients who were serious or at risk of worsening, all of whom had been attacked by snakes (49%), insects (42%) or scorpions (9%). In the ED, 33% of patients received analgesics and 27% were treated with antibiotics, 11% of patients were hospitalized. There were no deaths during the year.

In addition to the snake and scorpion attacks studied in detail in the recent years, this study highlights the predominant aspect of hymenoptera contacts in EDs. Finally, this study highlitghts that despite a growing increase in attacks by wildlife over the years, there is only low morbidity and mortality.