[Etiology of the first African case of systemic blastomycosis].

Several authors have suggested that african and north american forms of Blastomyces dermatitidis appeared separate taxa. Morphologic and pathogenic differences not only prevail, but also the failing to mate between them. African forms lose their mycelium-yeast conversion capability in old cultures.

[Argas and arbovirus update].

At the opportunity of the recent discovery of a new Phlebovirus, Tunis virus, the authors discuss the importance of the genus Argas as for its potential role in the transmission of arboviruses: twelve species of Argas are known to carry about twenty viruses. The wide distribution of Argas reflexes hermanni prompt us to explain its position in the Argas reflexes "complex" group: this species seems to be more liable to infection by viruses. Some ecological and entomological data are added to facilitate its typing.

[Tick-transmitted arbovirus in Maghreb].

The problem of arbovirus infections in Maghreb has been relatively neglected in the pst in spite of a rich diversity of biotopes, the presence of potential reservoirs and vectors, and their position on the flight path of the Palearctic-african bird migration systems, western branch. Moreover, West Nile virus has been isolated from southern Algeria since 1968. From 1979 to 1989, ticks were collected from wild birds, pigeons, bats, rodents, poultry, camels, wild boars, domestic mammals and man, and assayed for viruses.

Tunis virus: a new Phlebovirus from Argas reflexus hermanni ticks in Tunisia.

A new Phlebovirus provisionally named Tunis virus has been isolated from Argas reflexus hermanni ticks parasitizing domestic pigeons. It is the first isolation of an arbovirus from Tunisia and the fourth tick-borne virus to be isolated from the Moghreb following Soldado, Essaouira and Kala Iris in Morocco. The pathogenic potential of this virus is briefly discussed according to the behaviour of its vector and previous serosurveys in the country.

[Does Boutonneuse fever in France have equivalents outside the Mediterranean area?].

In western of France, outside of mediterranean spotted fever area, several sera from autochthonous patients were positive for the presence of anti-R. conori antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence test. What is it all about: authentic rickettsiosis or paraspecific seroreactions with other microorganisms? We discuss these hypothesis.