Portuguese to English Science Printing & Publishing

A scientific journal allows many types of papers to be published. One of them is termed "cartas ao editor" (letters to the editor). Under that heading, the journal allows a "réplica e tréplica" to be published as well.

In Portuguese: "documento enviado para publicação sobre tema de relevância, para a apresentação de sugestões ou para estimular a discussão de um assunto; permite-se a publicação de RÉPLICA e TRÉPLICA".

This means, a "reply and a counter-reply" can be published as well. How do you properly express this idea in English within this context? I've thought about "rebuttal and counter-rebuttal", but am not sure this sounds natural.

MTIA