Taenia martis in a white-headed lemur (Eulemur albifrons) from a zoological park in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

We present the case of Taenia martis metacestode infection in a white-headed lemur (Eulemur albifrons) from a zoological park. A post-mortem examination was conducted on the unexpectedly perished animal and focal granulomatous pneumonia with metacestodic tissue was discovered. Identification of T. martis was conducted through amplification and sequencing of a 12S rRNA gene fragment. We discuss the possible sources of infection and underline the importance of this infection in public health and conservation.

Ependymoma in a dwarf goat.

Ependymomas are relatively rare neuroglial tumours that derive from ependymal cells, lining the ventricles of the brain and the central canal of the spinal cord. They occur particularly in dogs, while reports in goats are extremely scarce. A 15-year-old female dwarf goat was found in lateral recumbency, developed opisthotonus and was killed humanely. Necropsy revealed a well-demarcated, non-encapsulated mass in the diencephalon at the level of the interthalamic adhesion. Histologically, the neoplasm showed highly cellular sheets of tumour cells with occasional perivascular pseudorosettes and true rosettes. Immunohistochemistry revealed an extensive and perivascularly accentuated expression of S100 protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein, while vimentin expression was observed to a minor extent. Tumour cells were negative for cytokeratin and CNPase. Ultrastructurally, intercellular junctions were present, but cilia and blepharoblasts were lacking. The presented findings are consistent with a cellular subtype of an ependymoma. Ependymomas should be regarded as a rare cause of central nervous signs in goats.

Presumptive Acute Neural Toxoplasmosis in a Captive Red-Necked Wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus).

A red-necked male wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) from a German zoo was presented for acute onset of severe neurological signs, including head tremor, lethargy, unresponsiveness, and weakness. Serum biochemical abnormalities included increased LDH- and AST-levels, hyperproteinaemia, and reduced ALT-, ALP-, and creatinine-levels. The wallaby was found serologically positive for Toxoplasma gondii by the indirect haemagglutination test. After initiation of therapy by subcutaneous injections of trimethoprim/sulfadoxin, amelioration of neurological signs was noted and after 10 days the affected wallaby recovered. T. gondii can be confirmed rapidly by serology, and immediate therapy may reduce clinical illness and fatality of the disease within captive macropods.