Lightning strike as a cause of death in cattle in Rio Grande do Sul.

Watanabe T.T.N., Ferreira H.H., Gomes D.C., Pedroso P.M.O., Oliveira L.G.S., Bandarra P.M., Antoniassi N.A.B. & Driemeier D. 2010. [Lightning strike as a cause of death in cattle in Rio Grande do Sul.] Fulguracao como causa de morte em bovinos no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira 30(3): 243-245. Setor de Patologia Veterinaria, Faculdade de Veterinaria, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS 91540-000, Brazil. E-mail: davetpat@ufrgs.br Lightning strike may cause sporadic deaths of animals that have been exposed to high-voltage electric currents during thunderstorms. Four healthy adult cattle from two herds were found dead next to eucalypt trees immediately after storms in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. There were recent burns and loose barks on the trunks of the trees, apart numerous branches and leaves scattered on the ground under the canopy of the trees. No gross or microscopic lesions were observed. In addition, there was no evidence of any toxic or infectious disease. These findings suggest that lightning strike caused the death of those animals.