Seasonal variations of systemic lupus erythematosus flares in southern France.

Objective: Exposure to sunlight is one of the environmental factors involved in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus. We investigated whether there is seasonal variation in the incidence of cutaneous and noncutaneous severe lupus flares in southern France.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical and biological data from all SLE patients hospitalized for a flare of the disease during a two year period in our centre and collected corresponding meteorological data from the official website of MeteoFrance.

Mathematical modelling of the impact of climatic conditions in France on Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick activity and density since 1960.

Rhipicephalus sanguineus, the brown dog tick, has a worldwide distribution in areas with a relatively warm climate, including mild winters. This tick plays an important role as vector for various animal and human pathogens, including bacteria and protozoa. Based on precise daily meteorological data from the past 40 years, combined with mathematical modelling designed to predict tick activity, two modelling approaches were developed.