Malignant syphilis is a rare ulcerative variety. In the classical description of the disease, the absence of spirochetes in tissue samples was considered as a diagnostic criterion. We report 3 cases of malignant syphilis; in all of them, spirochetes were identified in cutaneous biopsy samples using immunohistochemical staining.

Transient elastography combined with platelet count is useful for predicting the absence of esophageal varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy and, therefore, avoid unnecessary diagnostic endoscopies in HIV-infected patients with liver cirrhosis.

Chronic binge alcohol increases susceptibility to rectal simian immunodeficiency virus infection in macaquesAll of the authors were involved in the design and implementation the studies, and have reviewed and edited the letter. A.M.A., R.V. and G.J.B. analysed the data and drafted the letter. Conflicts of interestWe declare that there are no conflicts of interest.