Death due to Lightning Stroke
Accidental deaths of animals may occur due to a lightning stroke and electrocution. It is common in domestic animals.
Common causes of lightning stroke are:
- Flashes of lightning during thunderstorms may prove fatal to animals.
- Big trees usually have well-developed root systems.
- During a thunderstorm, if the ground is damp, then electrification of the root system charges a wide surface area.
- Merely standing on electrified earth electrocutes animals.
In Lightning stroke, if animals die following points should be taken for:
- History of thunderstorm in the locality.
- Evidence of the effects of lightning.
- Damage to houses or trees.
- Often, a lightning stroke will affect several animals in a herd.

Signs of Death due to Lightning Stroke
Half-chewed food in the mouth is a significant finding in the case of a lightning stroke.
Singeing and burning marks occur in about 90 per cent of cases of lightning. Mostly on the medial sides of the limbs but the hairs have a brownish discolouration and abnormal kinking.
Causes of death form electric currents is not necessary the same in all cases:
- Low tension and intensity current.
- Kill by producing ventricular fibrillation.
- Closing the current inhibit the heart.
- Opening the current is followed by fibrillation.
- High tension and intensity
- Kill by paralysing the bulbar respiratory centre.
- Flash of lightning seen.
- Considerable air pressure.
- Death is immediate due to CNS affection.
- Severe injuries seen
- Paralysing heart or respiratory center.
- Flash travel zigzag (easiest path of least resistance).
- Lighting always is DC.
- Forms ladder path form clouds to earth.
- It cause 10,000 to 2,00,000 amperes & voltage up to 2,00,00,000.
- It take 1/1000 of second.
- Thunderous sound is high voltage and amperage generates tremendous heat cause blasts.
- Destruction zone is 30 meters.
Etiology
- Linear lighting- group of animals affected.
- Tall trees with developed roots e.g. oak, poplar, elm,conifer, walnut, ash, beech.
- Faulty electric circuits.
- Metallic manager, electric pole, water or milk line electrified due to short circuit.
- Transmission wires breaks fall on animals.
- Transmission wires fall on ground.
- Geological composition-Loam, sand, clay, marble and chalk enhance conductivity.
- Rocky area- more exit.
- Chewing of electrical wires.
- 110 to 220 volts sufficient to kill adult cattle provided their contact. with surface ground is strong enough.
- Good conduct when which is standing in water or on a damp floor.
Symptoms
- Shock
- Fell dead with out struggles.
- Less severe cases-unconscious and recover after few minutes.
- Residual nervous symptom-depression, paraplegia and cutaneous hyper aesthesia.
- Minor case-restless, nervous and kicking at the stanchion or dividing rail.
- Intermittent shock eat and drink with care.
- Singeing and burning marks-medial sides of limbs.
- Hair brownish and abnormal kinking.
- Half chewed food in the mouth.
Causes of Death and Postmortem Changes
Causes of death
- Nervous shock.
- Respiratory paralysis.
- Ventricular fibrillation.
Postmortem changes
- Rigor develops and passes quickly-early putrification.
- Bloody discharge form natural office.
- Blood-dark and tends to clot slowly.
- Distended rumen and swollen carcass.
- Petechial haemorrhage throughout the body endocardium, meanings and CNS.
- Congested upper respiratory tract mucosae.
- Extravasation of blood in muscles and lymph nodes.
- Longitudinal fracture of long bones.
- Singeing or burning marks on the feet or muzzle.