Pathology of congenital Zika syndrome in Brazil: a case series

Zika virus is an arthropod-borne virus that is a member of the family Flaviviridae transmitted mainly by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes. Although usually asymptomatic, infection can result in a mild and self-limiting illness characterised by fever, rash, arthralgia, and conjunctivitis. An increase in the number of children born with microcephaly was noted in 2015 in regions of Brazil with high transmission of Zika virus. More recently, evidence has been accumulating supporting a link between Zika virus and microcephaly. Here, we describe findings from three fatal cases and two spontaneous abortions associated with Zika virus infection.

[Bacterial and fungal digestive flora of herring gulls (Larus argentatus) in the Camargue]. / Flore digestive bacterienne et fongique du goeland argente (Larus argentatus) en camargue (flore digestive du goeland argente).

The bacterial and fungal digestive flora of herring gulls (Larus argentatus michahellis) has been studied in Camargue, France. Of 107 cloacal swab samples, one was found to contain Salmonellae. The incidence of Escherichia coli and faecal Streptococcus was sufficiently high to suggest that greater attention should be paid to the environmental impact of this gull species.

[Mycobacteria in the digestive tract of pink Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber roseus, Pallas)]. / Recherche de Mycobactéries dans le tractus digestif de flamants roses (Phoenicopterus ruber roseus, Pallas)]

Cloacal swabs were taken from 37 young wild Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber roseus, Pallas) in Camargue (South of France). Neither pathogenic strain, nor environmental one were found. The absence of the latter could be attributed to the high NaCl levels of the ecosystems.