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The genus Sciurella Allman, 1883 is reassessed based on fertile specimens from Indonesia and Australia, using both morphological and genetic approaches. The genus is resurrected and kept distinct from Nemertesia Lamouroux, 1812 on the account of its long, tubular hydrothecae, and the gonothecae (of which only the female ones are known) provided with nematothecae. Stellate gonothecae correspond to S. indivisa Allman, 1883, while urn-shaped gonothecae are subjectively attributable to S. cylindrica (Kirchenpauer, 1876), comb. nov., a nominal species originally described based on sterile material. The taxonomy of the latter species is discussed in light of the available literature data, and Antennularia cylindrica Bale, 1884 is confidently assigned to its synonymy. Plumularia dolichotheca Allman, 1883 is provisionally transferred to Sciurella, as S. dolichotheca comb. nov., pending the discovery of fertile specimens and reliable evidence from molecular studies. The newly-generated genetic data for S. indivisa and S. cylindrica clearly confirm the distinction between Sciurella and Nemertesia, the two genera occupying divergent positions within the Plumulariidae phylogenetic hypotheses.

Among the thecate hydroids brought back by the Proteus-Guyane 2017 expedition of the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle of Paris, France, from French Guiana, two interesting species are reported upon. The plumulariid Callicarpa gracilis Fewkes, 1881, known so far from the type specimen only, is comprehensively redescribed 140 years after its original description. It adopts two different morphotypes with respect to both its tropho- and gonosome, forming either simple or ramified colonies, with either structurally-complex or rudimentary phylactocarps, respectively. Taxonomic notes on the genera Callicarpa Fewkes, 1881 and Hippurella Allman, 1877 are provided in light of their intricate history of origin and fate, together with the provisional resurrection of Antomma Stechow, 1919, as an allied genus of the former. The aglaopheniid Aglaophenia trifida L. Agassiz, 1862, whose gonosome was only partly documented to date, is redescribed thoroughly based on specimens bearing male and female corbulae. Scanning electron microscopy and molecular data were also used to document both species. A checklist of the thecate hydroids from French Guiana gathered during Proteus-Guyane 2017 and Guyane 2014 expeditions is provided as an appendix, together with brief notes on some species. Not dealing with the present study, but taking advantage of it, a new name, Antennella billardi Galea, nom. nov., is proposed as a replacement name for Plumularia balei Billard, 1911, which is a permanently invalid junior primary homonym of P. balei Bartlett, 1907.

The so far monotypic genus Sibogella Billard, 1911 is revised based on literature data. Its type species, S. erecta Billard, 1911, is thoroughly redescribed and illustrated, and accounts on two new congeners, S. flabellata sp. nov. from shallow waters of Indonesia and S. spissa sp. nov. from deep waters of New Caledonia, are provided. Single- (16S rRNA) and multi-locus (concatenated 16S, 18S, and 28S rRNA) phylogenetic assessments of the Plumulariidae, including newly-sequenced Sibogella material, supplement the alpha-taxonomical study.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: Risk factors for severe measles are poorly investigated in high-income countries. The Italian Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases conducted a retrospective study in children hospitalised for measles from January 2016 to August 2017 to investigate the risk factors for severe outcome defined by the presence of long-lasting sequelae, need of intensive care or death. RESULTS: Nineteen hospitals enrolled 249 children (median age 14.5 months): 207 (83%) children developed a complication and 3 (1%) died. Neutropaenia was more commonly reported in children with B3-genotype compared with other genotypes (29.5% vs 7.7%, p=0.01). Pancreatitis (adjusted OR [aOR] 9.19, p=0.01) and encephalitis (aOR 7.02, p=0.04) were related to severe outcome in multivariable analysis, as well as C reactive protein (CRP) (aOR 1.1, p=0.028), the increase of which predicted severe outcome (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.67, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.82). CRP values >2 mg/dL were related to higher risk of complications (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.15 to 3.7, p=0.01) or severe outcome (OR 4.13, 95% CI 1.43 to 11.8, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The risk of severe outcome in measles is independent of age and underlying conditions, but is related to the development of organ complications and may be predicted by CRP value.

Eilat Bay is located at the southernmost tip of Israel in the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea). The list of hydroids currently known from there includes 51 species, and when extending it to the entire Red Sea, it includes 157 species belonging to 41 families. Nevertheless, the information regarding hydroids in the Gulf of Aqaba, and in particular in Eilat Bay, is not exhaustive. The aim of this work is to improve knowledge of hydroid biodiversity in this area. The specimens collected during the HyDRa project (Hydroid Diversity of the Northern Red Sea) revealed the presence of 27 species, 13 Anthoathecata and 14 Leptothecata, belonging to 17 families and 20 genera. Two families, Cladonematidae and Corynidae, and five genera, Cladonema, Slabberia, Campanularia, Nemalecium and Lafoeina, are new findings for the Red Sea. Furthermore, Nemalecium lighti, Zanclea gallii and the new species Zanclea eilatensis sp. nov. have never before been recorded in the Red Sea. Zanclea eilatensis sp. nov. lives in association with a bryozoan, has a monomorphic colony lacking a perisarc and only has stenoteles in the polyps. The medusa stage has two prominent perradial exumbrellar nematocyst pouches and two tentacles with about 50 cnidophores having long flagella and containing macrobasic euryteles. In the present work, 54% of the species were associated with other organisms, such as hydroids, corals and bryozoans. New ecological data about the Zanclea–scleractinian coral association are documented. The present investigation provides new information about diversity in the Red Sea, and in particular in Eilat Bay. In addition, our data also have significance for Mediterranean and Red Sea biodiversity conservation due to the recent expansion of the Suez Canal and the consequent possible increase in the introduction of nonindigenous species in both directions. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C9EA7333-B9DF-4888-A643-4D45E6CD31CB.