title: Death secondary to a donkey's bites.
abstract: We present a unique case of death due to the assault and bites of a donkey on a 65-year-old man. The farmer, found dead in his farmyard, had a very deep wound in the anterior region of the neck, with a sharp transection of the trachea and severe bleeding by several minor vessels wall disruptions. The cause of death was established to be massive bleeding combined with asphyxia due to aspiration of the blood. Moreover, multiple contusions with associated skin abrasions and perforations were present. The general impression of the injuries was consistent with an animal's bite marks. Herbivorous or omnivorous bite attacks on humans are rare; instead, these animals attack by kicking, trampling, and kneeling, resulting in secondary blunt injuries. The donkey is usually a docile animal, but its behavior can be aggressive during the mating season, and the possibility of biting should not be underestimated, as illustrated by the 2 cases published previously as well as by the case presented here.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Cagliari, School of Medicine, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: d'Aloja
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grimaldi
authors.forename: Fidelia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cascini
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Mercurio
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De-Giorgio
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D018397:Equidae; D058734:Exsanguination / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D053120:Respiratory Aspiration / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D014132:Trachea / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology