Central nervous system neuroblastoma in a wild deer (Capreolus capreolus).

This report describes a central nervous system (CNS) neuroblastoma in a wild deer (Capreolus capreolus) of approximate age 10 years. The doe was found in a barn with a fractured right forelimb and was shot. The animal was submitted for post-mortem examination in order to exclude rabies. The tumour was located in the midline of the mesencephalon with replacement of thalamus and parts of the hypothalamus and infiltration into the adjacent neuroparenchyma and the right lateral and third ventricles. Microscopically, the neoplastic cells were arranged in sheets and nests forming Homer-Wright- and pseudorosettes. Immunohistochemically, the tumour cells expressed neuron-specific enolase, synaptophysin, doublecortin and neurofilament. This is the first report of an infiltrative CNS neuroblastoma in a wild deer.

[Herbal medications. Possible importance for anaesthesia and intensive care medicine]. / Phytopharmaka. Mögliche Bedeutung für Anästhesie und Intensivmedizin.

There is a great enthusiasm for herbal medications with increasing and widespread use among the population in various countries. A certain scepticism towards the use of pharmaceutical drugs may promote the use of herbal medicines such as echinacea, ginger, garlic, ginkgo, cranberry, valerian or St. John's wort even in western countries. Although considered safe among users, adverse effects such as increased bleeding tendencies, hypertension and hepatotoxicity can occur. Physicians should caution patients on the adverse side effects of herbal medicines and interactions between herbal medicines and pharmaceutical drugs, leading to various and uncontrollable deterioration of vital functions in the perioperative period. Although evidence-based data are lacking, anaesthesiologists and surgeons should be familiar with the effects of herbal medicines and should enquire about the use of these agents in the preoperative assessment. Currently available data suggest that herbal medications should be discontinued up to 2 weeks before elective surgery, although no guidelines of scientific societies have yet been published.

[Bronchopneumonia and polyarthritis due to Mycoplasma bovis in a calf]. / Bronchopneumonie und Polyarthritis mit Nachweis von Mycoplasma bovis bei einem Rind.

This case report describes gross lesions and histopathological findings in a 3-months-old calf originating from a feedlot with approximately 400 cattle. In this animal and additional 14 cattle of similar age, which were kept together in the same stable, swollen joints had occurred suddenly. The examination of this calf showed that a severe polyarthritis induced by haematogenous spread of Mycoplasma bovis following bronchopenumonia was present, which was characterised by necrotising lesions of the joint capsules and severe cartilage erosions.