[24 cases of donovanosis in French Guiana]

24 cases of Donovanosis (Granuloma inguinale) have been observed at the Dermatology Clinic of the Centre Hospitalier of Cayenne (French Guyana) between 1970 and 1980, representing a high rate for a 60,000 population. All the patients were coloured people. The disease is more important in the cutaneous parts of the ano-genital areas, than on the mucous parts. The "carcinoid" aspects of some histopathological exams must be considered with the bacteriological research and the very soft clinical aspects. It is often caused by intrarectal sexual contacts whether homo- or heterosexual. The high rate of Donovanosis within the homosexual population is a good argument for an intestinal localisation of the germ Calymnatobacterium granulomatis. All the cases diagnosed show an individual susceptibility to this disease. A deficit of cellular immunity as found in lepromatous leprosy seems a very attractive hypothesis. The treatment with 4 g of streptomycin by day during 5 days or more is considered as the best actually.