Pathological Findings in Accidental Electrocution in a Horse (Case Report)

Abstract

Recently, the veterinarians are dealing with a number of cases that require forensic expertise. Such a circumstance could be the accidental electrocution in animals, one of the causes of unnatural death. There is a scarcity with reference to the pathological findings in veterinary forensic medicine. In this paper, we present the main lesions that occurred in a horse with accidental electrocution that was presented for complete necropsy survey. A horse corpse was sent to the Pathology Department (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania) for a full medical survey. Preliminary results and external examination: the body was in rigor mortis; from the nasal cavities drained out reddish foam and in the mouth was observed the presence of ingested feed (straw) that was not chewed, suggesting a quick death. The findings detected after internal examination of the carcass were poor blood coagulability, haemorrhagic diathesis throughout the body, with haemorrhages of various sizes in different body regions (e.g., muscles of the withers, in the gluteal muscle, the mucosa of epiglottis, larynx, trachea, in the interstitium of the lung, and ecchymosis in the left kidney). Some other lesions detected were infarcts and haemorrhages in the fundic region of the stomach’s mucosa. In electrocution, haemorrhages are most often located in the respiratory tract, aspect observed in our case too. However, the diagnosis of electrocution has to corroborate the necropsy findings (which are not specific), with some other data such as the fulminant death and inspection of power source.

Frothing in a Case of Electrocution: A Rare Case and Review of Literature

“…Poor blood coagulability, hemorrhagic diathesis throughout the body, and hemorrhages of varied diameters in various body locations were discovered on interior inspection of the corpse. The respiratory system is where hemorrhages are most frequently found in electrocution cases, as was also the case in our instance (9).…”

“…This destabilization can be the result of either a mechanical disruption or an electrical disconnection of the central nervous system’s vasomotor centers, ultimately leading to pulmonary complications. The consideration of these factors formed a vital part of the diagnostic process, as it assisted in narrowing down potential causes and guiding the medical team toward a more accurate understanding of the patient’s condition and its underlying mechanisms (9, 12). These modifications are followed by pulmonary vein constriction, the pulmonary capillary hydrostatic pressure rising, alveolar wall damage, fluid leakage into the intra-alveolar and interstitial regions, bleeding resulting in frothing, and damage to the alveolar wall.…”