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Aly SM, Gish A, Hakim F, Guelmi D, Mesli V, Hédouin V, Allorge D, Gaulier JM. In the case of extensively putrefied bodies, the analysis of entomological samples may support and complement the toxicological results obtained with other alternative matrices. Leg Med (Tokyo) 2023; 63:102261. [PMID: 37087785 DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2023.102261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Entomotoxicological analysis is not part of routine toxicological analysis. This work aims to present two cases to illustrate the potential of entomological samples as complementary matrices to identify substances in cases of advanced putrefaction. (Case#1) A woman wasexhumed after 14 months to ascertain the exact cause of death. She died after six weeks of hospitalization because of intestinal ischemia followed by multiorgan failure. (Case#2) The corpse of a woman, known to have a psychiatric disorder, was discovered in her apartment. The state of decomposition of the body was consistent with a post-mortem period of several weeks (approximately 6 weeks). Toxicological investigations were performed in the biological and entomological samples of case#1 (hair, adipocere, brain, and pupae) and of case#2 (hair, bone, flies, and pupae) using liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry detection methods. In case#1, several drugs and metabolites were detected. In particular, the pupae analyses allowed the objectification of morphine administration, whereas morphine was only found in adipocere, but not in hair nor in brain. In case#2, the pupae analyses allowed the detection of three metabolites of quetiapine, and the flies analyses allowed the detection of valpromide, which was only detected in hair. In conclusion, the pupae and flies analyses in these two cases complemented the results obtained in the other alternative biological samples, which may guide hypotheses about the possible causes of death. Nevertheless, additional data and case reports would be of benefit to assess the value of entomotoxicology in routine forensic investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanaa M Aly
- CHU Lille, Service de Toxicologie-Génopathies, UF de Toxicologie, Lille 59000, France; Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
| | - Alexandr Gish
- CHU Lille, Service de Toxicologie-Génopathies, UF de Toxicologie, Lille 59000, France; University of Lille, ULR 4483-IMPECS-IMPact de l'Environnement Chimique sur la Santé humaine, Lille 59000, France
| | - Florian Hakim
- CHU Lille, Service de Toxicologie-Génopathies, UF de Toxicologie, Lille 59000, France; University of Lille, ULR 4483-IMPECS-IMPact de l'Environnement Chimique sur la Santé humaine, Lille 59000, France
| | - Douniazad Guelmi
- CHU Lille, Service de Toxicologie-Génopathies, UF de Toxicologie, Lille 59000, France
| | - Vadim Mesli
- CHU Lille, Service de Médecine Légale, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Valéry Hédouin
- CHU Lille, Service de Médecine Légale, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Delphine Allorge
- CHU Lille, Service de Toxicologie-Génopathies, UF de Toxicologie, Lille 59000, France; University of Lille, ULR 4483-IMPECS-IMPact de l'Environnement Chimique sur la Santé humaine, Lille 59000, France
| | - Jean-Michel Gaulier
- CHU Lille, Service de Toxicologie-Génopathies, UF de Toxicologie, Lille 59000, France; University of Lille, ULR 4483-IMPECS-IMPact de l'Environnement Chimique sur la Santé humaine, Lille 59000, France.
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Hu G, Kang C, Zhu R, Guo Y, Li L, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Wang J. A Preliminary Study of Body Decomposition and Arthropod Succession in an Arid Area in Northwest China During Summer. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 60:306-315. [PMID: 36478242 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The study of insect fauna and their development and succession patterns on decaying cadavers is crucial to promoting insect evidence as a useful tool in forensic science, particularly for estimating the postmortem interval (PMI). Body decomposition and arthropod succession are affected by many factors and exhibit substantial regional variations; therefore, detailed succession studies in different biogeographic regions are required for understanding the successional patterns of insects in various environments. This study was conducted in the summer of 2021 using three domestic pig carcasses (Sus scrofa domestica L., 1758) in the field of Shizuishan City, Ningxia, Northwest China. A total of 40 species of necrophagous insects belonging to three orders and 16 families were collected. Among Diptera, Lucilia sericata (Meigen,1826), Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius,1794), and Phormia regina (Meigen,1826) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) were the dominant species. As for Coleoptera, the dominant species changed throughout the process of carcass decomposition from Saprinus semipunctatus (Fabricius,1792) (Coleoptera: Histeridae) to Dermestes maculatus DeGeer,1774 and Dermestes frischii Kugelann,1792 (Coleoptera: Dermestidae). The carcasses desiccated rapidly and reached the remains stage under extreme conditions of high temperatures and low humidity, after which a large amount of dried tissue of the carcasses attracted populations of Coleoptera, particularly Dermstidae, which were abundant and remained until the end of the experiment on day 50. The current study is the first forensic entomological investigation of succession in Northwest China and provides basic data for the estimation of PMI during summer in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gengwang Hu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou 215000, China
| | - Chengtao Kang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou 215000, China
| | - Rui Zhu
- Shizuishan Public Security Bureau, Criminal Police Branch, Shengli East Road, Shizuishan 753099, China
| | - Yi Guo
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou 215000, China
| | - Liangliang Li
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou 215000, China
| | - Yinghui Wang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou 215000, China
| | - Yanan Zhang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou 215000, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou 215000, China
| | - Jiangfeng Wang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou 215000, China
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Afifi FM, Abdelfattah EA, El-Bassiony GM. Impact of using Sarcophaga (Liopygia) argyrostoma (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) as a toxicological sample in detecting clonazepam for forensic investigation. EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1186/s41935-022-00296-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Sarcophagidae along with Calliphoridae (superfamily Oestroidea) were known as important colonizers of cadavers and could be used to estimate the postmortem interval (PMI), through tracking the flies colonizing pattern and/or monitoring their growth rates on cadavers. Many previous researches discussed the impact of toxins in decomposing corpses, on the developmental stages of insects, which would affect the accuracy of PMI estimation. Clonazepam belongs to the benzodiazepines, and it is one of the most routinely used drugs to control humans’ seizures. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of clonazepam on the developmental stages of Sarcophaga argyrostoma, one of the most widespread Sarcophagidae in Giza Governorate. Also, we investigate the ability of these developmental stages to detect the drug.
Results
The current study used different concentrations of clonazepam (25, 50, and 100 mg/ml) as an in vitro application of the flesh fly S. argyrostoma. The drug has affected significantly the morphological measurements (weight, length, and width) of the different developmental stages, especially in the highest concentration (100 mg/ml). Quantitative and qualitative analyses were applied, by using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS) and protein carbonyls amount respectively, to detect clonazepam in the second, early third, and late third larval instars and prepupa of S. argyrostoma. The results showed that the relationship between the concentration of the drug and its detection in the same developing instar is interdependent, using HPLC–MS. However, the drug faded from instar to the following one and transformed to its metabolite form. Measuring the protein carbonyls amount (OD/mg protein/min) revealed an elevation in the macromolecules damage, compared to the control groups, in almost all treated groups.
Conclusions
The current data suggested that clonazepam has oxidative damage in S. argyrostoma. While HPLC–MS was efficient in measuring the concentration of the drug in the insect, protein carbonyls analysis was a time- and cost-saving method and could be used to detect the drug in insects qualitatively.
Graphical abstract
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El-Ashram S, Toto NA, El Wakil A, Augustyniak M, El-Samad LM. Reduced body length and morphological disorders in Chrysomya albiceps (Diptera: Calliphoridae) larvae reared on aluminum phosphide-treated rabbits. Sci Rep 2022; 12:8358. [PMID: 35589839 PMCID: PMC9120514 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12351-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Assessing the time of death based on the growth and development of insects is a critical task in forensic entomology. The rate of larvae development can be affected by a variety of toxins, including pesticides. Aluminum phosphide (AlP) is a low-cost insecticide that has yet to be tested for entomotoxicological significance, despite the fact that it is frequently the cause of fatal poisoning. In this study, we measured the body length of Chrysomya albiceps larvae reared on the carcasses of rabbits poisoned with AlP and analyzed the morphological changes of the larvae reared on the carcasses of rabbits poisoned with AlP. The concentration of AlP in the body of the larvae was significantly lower than in rabbit tissues. Insects from the AlP group had a significantly lower gain in body length. Furthermore, deformities in the larvae were found. Smaller respiratory spiracles were found, as well as a deformed small posterior end with hypogenesis of the posterior respiratory spiracles. Thus, disturbed growth and development of carrion flies found at a crime scene could indicate pesticide poisoning, such as aluminum phosphide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeed El-Ashram
- Faculty of Science, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh, 33516, Egypt.
| | - Noura A Toto
- Department of Zoology, Faulty of Science, Damanhour University, El Beheira, Egypt
| | - Abeer El Wakil
- Department of Biological and Geological Sciences, Faculty of Education, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Maria Augustyniak
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Bankowa 9, 40-007, Katowice, Poland
| | - Lamia M El-Samad
- Department of Zoology, Faulty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
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Ahmed Al-Keridis L, Al Galil FMA, Al-Mekhlafi FA, Wadaan MA, Al-Khalifa MS. Impact of Hypnotic Drug Zolpidem Tartrate on the Development of Forensic Fly Sarcophaga ruficornis (Diptera: Sarcophagidae). JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:820-825. [PMID: 35147699 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The flesh fly Sarcophaga ruficornis (Fabricius) is one of the fly species of significant medical and forensic importance since it is one of the most common flesh flies used in forensic investigations. Zolpidem tartrate is a sedative-hypnotic drug used for the short-term treatment of insomnia in adults and its use has been implicated in many suicide cases worldwide. Fresh chopped liver of buffalo Bubalus bubalis (Artiodactyla: Bovidae) containing different concentrations of Zolpidem tartrate was given to S. ruficornis larvae to evaluate the effect of Zolpidem tartrate on the developmental rate of the different stages, life cycle duration, and the morphological parameters. The findings have shown significant variation in the time required for the different developmental stages and total life cycle duration, which correlated positively with the Zolpidem tartrate concentration in different cultures. Compared to the control, the morphological parameters were negatively correlated with the concentration of Zolpidem tartrate in the treated cultures. The obtained results indicate that the Zolpidem tartrate retards larval development and alters the estimation of the total developmental duration. Thus, when Zolpidem tartrate may be the cause of death, the entomological evidence needs to be analyzed so it takes zolpidem-related changes to the mPMI into account.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lamya Ahmed Al-Keridis
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fahd Mohammed Abd Al Galil
- Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Bisha, P.O. Box 551, Bisha, 61922, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Thamar University, Thamar, Yemen
| | - Fahd A Al-Mekhlafi
- Bioproducts Research Chair, Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Agricultural Production, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Thamar University, Thamar, Yemen
| | - Muhammad A Wadaan
- Bioproducts Research Chair, Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed S Al-Khalifa
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
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Unexpected results found in larvae samples from two postmortem forensic cases. Forensic Toxicol 2021; 40:144-155. [DOI: 10.1007/s11419-021-00601-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose
In forensics, entomological specimens can be used as additional/alternative matrices to detect xenobiotics when human specimens are limited in their application. Despite some advantages over implementing putrefied human remains, most medico-legal laboratories do not include entomotoxicological procedures as routine analytical methods. We thus applied two authentic cases to evaluate necrophagous larvae’s potential as complementary matrices for toxicological analysis after extensive postmortem decomposition.
Methods
Larvae and postmortem human samples, including hair, stomach contents, pericardial fluid, liver, lung, and skeletal muscle, were collected at autopsy. Samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry for pharmaceutical substances, illicit drugs, and new psychoactive substances, including synthetic cannabinoids, benzodiazepines, new synthetic opioids, and stimulants.
Results
Nearly all substances detected in human specimens, including several benzodiazepines and synthetic cannabinoids, were also detected in larvae. Surprisingly, some drugs, including the new psychoactive substances EAM-2201 and U-47700, were found exclusively in larvae and hair. The benzodiazepine etizolam was detected only in liver, lungs, and stomach contents, possibly resulting from characteristic tissue distribution in humans and/or larvae.
Conclusions
Antemortem external hair contamination with synthetic cannabinoids from side-stream smoke and postmortem hair contamination with substances in putrefaction fluids can be supposed in these cases. Our findings suggest that supplementary information can indeed be gained from analyzing larvae additional to those human specimens that are typically used for toxicological analysis after extensive postmortem decomposition. Nevertheless, these results represent merely two cases, requiring in-depth studies to determine whether such findings can identify acute intoxications as possible causes of death.
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Comparison of Accumulated Degree-Days and Entomological Approaches in Post Mortem Interval Estimation. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12030264. [PMID: 33801084 PMCID: PMC8003922 DOI: 10.3390/insects12030264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Among the investigative questions to define the temporal frame of a criminal event, the time since death plays a fundamental role. After death, the body goes through a series of physical and chemical transformations—known as decomposition. The way in which different parts of the body undergo these transformations can be quantified with a scale of scores (TBS, the total body score) and used for the time since death evaluation using the accumulated degree-days (ADDs) parameter, which accounts for time and temperature. This method is reported as TBS/ADD. Another way to estimate the time since death is based on the insect development on the body. Flies represent the first body coloniser and the development of their immature stages is used to define the time of colonisation that is temperature dependent and species specific. In this study, the two methods were compared based on 30 forensic cases occurring in northern Italy. The results highlighted the limits of the TBS/ADD method and the importance of the entomological approach, keeping in mind that with insects the colonization time is evaluated. This time is the minimum time since death. Abstract Establishing the post mortem interval (PMI) is a key component of every medicolegal death investigation. Several methods based on different approaches have been suggested to perform this estimation. Among them, two methods based their evaluation on the effect of the temperature and time on the considered parameters: total body score (TBS)/accumulated degree-days (ADDs) and insect development. In this work, the two methods were compared using the results of minPMI and PMI estimates of 30 forensic cases occurring in northern Italy. Species in the family Calliphoridae (Lucilia sericata, Calliphora vomitoria and Chrysomya albiceps) were considered in the analyses. The results highlighted the limits of the TBS/ADD method and the importance of the entomological approach, keeping in mind that the minPMI is evaluated. Due to the fact that the majority of the cases occurred in indoor conditions, further research must also be conducted on the different taxa to verify the possibility of increasing the accuracy of the minPIM estimation based on the entomological approach.
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Bessa BGDO, Silva-Neto HDA, Coltro WKT, Rocha TL, Lopes WR. Lead toxicity in Lucilia cuprina and electrochemical analysis: a simple and low-cost alternative for forensic investigation. Anal Bioanal Chem 2021; 413:3201-3208. [PMID: 33665673 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-021-03257-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Entomotoxicology allows the detection and analysis of substances such as poisons, drugs, and metals in necrophagous insects using analytical protocols. In a forensic situation related to death by gunshot, the gunshot residue (GSR) is dispersed at the crime scene and may be consumed by necrophagous insects. Lead (Pb) is the most abundant metal in GSR samples and it can be determined using non-portable methods. However, the toxicity effects of GSR samples on Lucilia cuprina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and the detection of Pb via portable electrochemical methods have not been investigated. This study describes for the first time the toxicity analysis of Pb on immature L. cuprina through their survival rate and influence of Pb on immature development. In addition, the bioaccumulation of Pb in the larvae samples was determined based on square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) measurements. The results revealed a low limit of detection to Pb (6.5 μg L-1) and the analytical performance was satisfactory because it measures Pb levels in larvae exposed to a diet containing 50 μg Pb g-1. Furthermore, the levels of Pb influenced the survival rate and development time of the immature L. cuprina. Larvae exposed to a high concentration of the metal (50 μg Pb g -1) showed statistically significant changes (p < 0.05). The presence of Pb in immature L. cuprina can be used to estimate the post-mortem interval; thus, the present study provides important information in forensic entomology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara G de O Bessa
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brazil
| | | | - Wendell K T Coltro
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Thiago L Rocha
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, 74001-970, Brazil
| | - Welinton R Lopes
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brazil
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Malejko J, Deoniziak K, Tomczuk M, Długokencka J, Godlewska-Żyłkiewicz B. Puparial Cases as Toxicological Indicators: Bioaccumulation of Cadmium and Thallium in the Forensically Important Blowfly Lucilia sericata. Front Chem 2020; 8:586067. [PMID: 33330373 PMCID: PMC7716273 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2020.586067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we present entomotoxicological data on the accumulation of cadmium and thallium in a forensically important blowfly, Lucilia sericata, and evaluate the reliability and utility of such information as toxicological evidence for poisoning as a cause of death. We observed that Cd and Tl content in different growing stages of L. sericata (larvae, puparial cases, and adults) was increasing with increasing metal concentration in the feeding substrate, namely metal-enriched liver. However, patterns of accumulation differed between the two metals investigated, showing a linear relationship for Cd and a saturable pattern for Tl. For cadmium, the highest bioaccumulation factor (BAF) was found in the larval stage (in the range of 0.20–0.25), while for thallium, puparial cases accumulated more metal than the other stages tested (BAF in the range of 0.24–0.42). Thallium was also observed to have a negative effect on larval growth, resulting in lower weight and smaller puparial size. With this study, we update the information on the bioaccumulation of cadmium in forensically important blowflies and provide the first report on the bioaccumulation of thallium as well as its developmental impact in blowflies. Specifically, our results suggest that analysis of puparial cases could yield useful information for entomotoxicological investigations. The content of Cd and Tl in larvae, puparial cases, and adults of L. sericata was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The validation parameters of the method such as sensitivity, detection limits, quantification limits, precision, and accuracy were evaluated. The method detection limit (MDL) for all types of samples was in the range of 1.6–3.4 ng g−1 for Cd and 0.034–0.15 ng g−1 for Tl, and the accuracy of the method was confirmed by a high recovery of metals from certified reference materials (91.3% for Cd and 94.3% for Tl).
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Affiliation(s)
- Julita Malejko
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Deoniziak
- Laboratory of Insect Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland
| | - Marlena Tomczuk
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland
| | - Joanna Długokencka
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland
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Abajue MC, Ewuim SC. Evaluation of activities of dipteran maggots on a poisoned pig cadaver at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Nigeria. EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES 2020. [DOI: 10.1186/s41935-020-00208-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Forensic entomology is evolving into entomotoxicology, which is a critical approach in forensic toxicology that alternatively assesses presence of toxins in insects that have eaten a decomposing cadaver. Toxic substances in or on a dead body may accumulate in the tissues of fly maggots while feeding on the body and thus may alter their developmental rate. Thus, four out of eight healthy pigs (Sus scrofa Linn.) that weighed on the average 22.3 ± 1.9 kg were sacrificed with zinc phosphide as food poison, while the remaining four pigs were sacrificed by strangulation during the rainy and dry seasons of 2014 and 2015 respectively. Their bodies were deposited in a building to mimic indoor decomposition. The building is on 6° 15′ 18.06″ N and 7° 06′ 41.37″ E at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. The effect of the zinc phosphide on the decomposition duration of the cadavers was monitored. Toxicological assessment of zinc and phosphorus on maggots found on the cadavers was performed with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer.
Findings
The zinc phosphide did not affect the decomposition duration of the cadaver and did not prolong or shortened the life cycle of the fly maggots when compared with the control (strangled pig cadaver). For the poisoned cadavers, the atomic absorption spectrophotometer detected zinc in the maggot tissues collected from them while phosphorus was not detected. Neither zinc nor phosphorus was detected in the maggot tissues collected from the strangled cadavers.
Conclusions
The study showed that the zinc component in the zinc phosphide commonly used as rodenticide in Awka can be detected in maggots collected from such a suspected poisoned cadaver. Other implications related to toxicological studies on cadaveric insects in forensic entomology and serving as alternative matrices in forensic toxicology in any questionable death were also highlighted.
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Revisiting the concept of entomotoxicology. Forensic Sci Int Synerg 2020; 2:282-286. [PMID: 33024952 PMCID: PMC7530288 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsisyn.2020.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Until now, the term entomotoxicology has only been used in medico-legal sciences. However, entomotoxicology as a whole has a much wider scope and forensic entomotoxicology is just one of its branches. Based on the literature a wider definition of the term is presented. Today, we can distinguish two major branches of entomotoxicology: 1) Forensic entomotoxicology, which uses the insects as evidence of the presence of xenobiotics in decomposing tissue during an investigation and 2) Environmental entomotoxicology, which uses the insects as bioindicators of environmental pollution in non-criminal circumstances. While forensic entomotoxicology is a relatively new discipline, research in environmental entomotoxicology began as far back as the 1920s. A review of the work in entomotoxicology from the last 6 years is presented, covering several interesting new trends. This article aims to redefine entomotoxicology, which should increase awareness to bring more collaborations and multidisciplinary between related scientific fields.
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Weidner LM, Nigoghosian G, Yoho KC, Parrott JJ, Hans KR. An Analysis of Forensically Important Insects Associated with Human Remains in Indiana, U.S.A. J Forensic Sci 2020; 65:2036-2041. [PMID: 32777093 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.14531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Research documenting insect colonization of human remains is limited in North America, and currently nonexistent for the American Midwest. Such research is essential for forensic entomologists to identify species of research interest in a region. In this study, we collected insects from human remains in 24 cases across Indiana from June 2016 through September 2018. We analyzed species composition across scene type and season. Eight species of blow flies were collected as larvae from human remains, with Phormia regina and Lucilia sericata as the two predominant colonizers. Phormia regina was the most numerous species collected from outdoor scenes (73.6% of total collections) while L. sericata was the most numerous from the indoor scenes (60.4% of total collections). With scene types pooled, Calliphora vicina and Cochliomya macellaria were the predominant species in the fall (55.6% and 42.2%, respectively); P. regina was the dominant colonizer in the spring (68.6%); and P. regina and L. sericata were the predominant colonizers (46.5% and 44.4%, respectively) in the summer. In addition to these findings, we confirmed the first record of Lucilia cuprina colonizing human remains in Indiana having collected this species from three cases. A single adult Chrysomya megacephala was collected from an indoor scene in southern Indiana, which represents its second collection in the state. Beetles belonging to the families Staphylinidae, Silphidae, Histeridae, Cleridae, Trogidae, Dermestdae, and Nitidulidae were also collected from two outdoor scenes. This study provides important baseline data for forensic entomologists in Indiana, as well as surrounding states with similar environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M Weidner
- School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Arizona State University West Campus, 4701 W Thunderbird Road, Glendale, AZ, 85306.,Department of Entomology, Purdue University, 901 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907
| | - Gregory Nigoghosian
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, 901 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907
| | - Kelie C Yoho
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, 901 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907
| | - Jonathan J Parrott
- School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Arizona State University West Campus, 4701 W Thunderbird Road, Glendale, AZ, 85306
| | - Krystal R Hans
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, 901 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907
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Meng F, Liu Z, Han H, Finkelbergs D, Jiang Y, Zhu M, Wang Y, Sun Z, Chen C, Guo Y, Cai J. Chromosome-level genome assembly of Aldrichina grahami, a forensically important blowfly. Gigascience 2020; 9:giaa020. [PMID: 32191812 PMCID: PMC7081965 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giaa020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are the most commonly found entomological evidence in forensic investigations. Distinguished from other blowflies, Aldrichina grahami has some unique biological characteristics and is a species of forensic importance. Its development rate, pattern, and life cycle can provide valuable information for the estimation of the minimum postmortem interval. FINDINGS Herein we provide a chromosome-level genome assembly of A. grahami that was generated by Pacific BioSciences sequencing platform and chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) technology. A total of 50.15 Gb clean reads of the A. grahami genome were generated. FALCON and Wtdbg were used to construct the genome of A. grahami, resulting in an assembly of 600 Mb and 1,604 contigs with an N50 size of 1.93 Mb. We predicted 12,823 protein-coding genes, 99.8% of which was functionally annotated on the basis of the de novo genome (SRA: PRJNA513084) and transcriptome (SRA: SRX5207346) of A. grahami. According to the co-analysis with 11 other insect species, clustering and phylogenetic reconstruction of gene families were performed. Using Hi-C sequencing, a chromosome-level assembly of 6 chromosomes was generated with scaffold N50 of 104.7 Mb. Of these scaffolds, 96.4% were anchored to the total A. grahami genome contig bases. CONCLUSIONS The present study provides a robust genome reference for A. grahami that supplements vital genetic information for nonhuman forensic genomics and facilitates the future research of A. grahami and other necrophagous blowfly species used in forensic medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanming Meng
- School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Pro, China
| | - Zhuoying Liu
- School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Pro, China
| | - Han Han
- School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Pro, China
| | | | - Yangshuai Jiang
- School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Pro, China
| | - Mingfei Zhu
- Nextomics Biosciences, Wuhan, Hubei Pro, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Nextomics Biosciences, Wuhan, Hubei Pro, China
| | - Zongyi Sun
- Nextomics Biosciences, Wuhan, Hubei Pro, China
| | - Chao Chen
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
| | - Yadong Guo
- School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Pro, China
| | - Jifeng Cai
- School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Pro, China
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Ishak N, Ahmad AH, Mohamad Noor SA, Ahmad A. Detection of heroin metabolites at different developmental stages of Lucilia cuprina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) reared in heroin-treated meat: a preliminary analysis. EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES 2019. [DOI: 10.1186/s41935-019-0171-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Blowfly larvae and pupae collected during post-mortem forensic investigation can be analysed to detect drugs or toxins in a dead body. Drug or toxin-contaminated tissues of human remains consumed by blowfly larvae are stored in the crop even after a body has decomposed to the point where no fluid or tissues are retrievable. Therefore, blowfly larva and pupa are favourable specimens under conditions in which host tissues or blood samples are not available.
Methodology
We carried out a study to detect heroin metabolites in Lucilia cuprina (Weidemann, 1830) immatures fed on different concentrations of heroin-treated meat: 500, 1000, 2500, 5000, and 10,000 ng/μl. Heroin metabolites detection was performed by a gas chromatography mass spectrophotometry (GCMS) analysis.
Results
This study indicates that L. cuprina can be utilized in a toxicological analysis to detect heroin in a host. However, the expected complete metabolites of heroin were not detected in the first instar larvae and pupa, while the second and third instar larvae contributed to a complete heroin metabolite which was morphine. This was subject to the heroin concentration given. Morphine was detected in the third instar larvae treated with 5000 and 10,000 ng/μl heroin, while in the second instar, it was detected only at 10,000 ng/μl. Heroin metabolites detected in the second and third instar larvae proves that biochemical conversions occur in the fly larvae.
Conclusion
The absence of heroin metabolites in the first instar larvae and pupa does not necessarily mean that the drug was not present in the host. Therefore, the limitations of heroin detection capability during these stages should be always kept in mind, as this could contribute to a false-negative result in a forensic analysis. If all stages are available during sample collection, it is crucial to prioritize the third instar larvae in a toxicological analysis.
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Chophi R, Sharma S, Sharma S, Singh R. Forensic entomotoxicology: Current concepts, trends and challenges. J Forensic Leg Med 2019; 67:28-36. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2019.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Revised: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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16
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Ketola RA, Kriikku P. Drug concentrations in post‐mortem specimens. Drug Test Anal 2019; 11:1338-1357. [DOI: 10.1002/dta.2662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Raimo A. Ketola
- Forensic Toxicology UnitNational Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) Mannerheimintie 166 FI‐00270 Helsinki Finland
| | - Pirkko Kriikku
- Forensic Toxicology UnitNational Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) Mannerheimintie 166 FI‐00270 Helsinki Finland
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Eibel A, Farrugia A, Raul JS, Kintz P. Dosage du baclofène dans des larves de mouches recueillies sur un corps putréfié. TOXICOLOGIE ANALYTIQUE ET CLINIQUE 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxac.2018.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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18
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Entomotoxicology in burnt bodies: a case of maternal filicide-suicide by fire. Int J Legal Med 2017; 131:1299-1306. [DOI: 10.1007/s00414-017-1628-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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19
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Ferner RE, Aronson JK. The toxicological significance of post-mortem drug concentrations in bile. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2017; 56:7-14. [PMID: 28681613 DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2017.1339886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Robin E. Ferner
- Institute of Clinical Science, University of Birmingham, and West Midlands Centre for Adverse Drug Reactions, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK
| | - Jeffrey K. Aronson
- Centre for Evidence Based Medicine, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Radcliffe infirmary, Oxford, UK
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da Silva EIT, Wilhelmi B, Villet MH. Forensic entomotoxicology revisited-towards professional standardisation of study designs. Int J Legal Med 2017; 131:1399-1412. [PMID: 28567525 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-017-1603-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Forensic entomotoxicology is the use of insects as evidence of whether a toxicant is present in an environment such as a corpse, river or landscape. The earliest overtly forensic study was published in 1977, and since then, at least 63 papers have been published, most of them focused on the detection of toxicants in insects or on effects of toxicants on diverse insect indicator taxa. A comprehensive review of the published literature revealed various inconsistencies between studies that could be addressed by introducing standard protocols for such studies. These protocols could include selecting widespread and common model organisms (such as Lucilia sericata, Calliphora vicina, Chrysomya megacephala and Dermestes maculatus) and model toxicants (e.g. morphine and amitriptyline) to build up comparative databases; developing a standard matrix for use as a feeding substrate; setting guidelines for statistically adequate sample sizes; and deploying more sophisticated analytical methods from the general field of toxicology. Future studies should then be aimed at refining standardised protocols to improve experimental results, and make these results more comparable between studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica I T da Silva
- Southern African Forensic Entomology Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa.
| | - Brendan Wilhelmi
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa
| | - Martin H Villet
- Southern African Forensic Entomology Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa.
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Bévalot F, Cartiser N, Bottinelli C, Fanton L, Guitton J. État de l’art de l’analyse de la bile en toxicologie médicolégale. TOXICOLOGIE ANALYTIQUE ET CLINIQUE 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxac.2016.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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22
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Bugelli V, Campobasso CP, Verhoff MA, Amendt J. Effects of different storage and measuring methods on larval length values for the blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Lucilia sericata and Calliphora vicina. Sci Justice 2016; 57:159-164. [PMID: 28454623 DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2016.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2016] [Revised: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In forensic entomology, the methods of sampling, killing, and storing entomological samples can affect larval age estimation, and, hence, the estimation of the minimum post-mortem interval. In the existing manuals, there is a certain amount of heterogeneity regarding methods and the recommendations for best practice in forensic entomology are insufficiently validated. This study evaluated three different length-measurement methods for larval stages and examined the influence of different killing and storing methods on the larval length of two forensically important blow flies, Lucilia sericata and Calliphora vicina. The three different measuring methods were a) a ruler with a 0.1mm scale, b) a geometrical micrometer, and c) a computer-aided stereomicroscope. They were used to measure the length of L1-L3C. vicina larvae and detect no significant differences. This supports the view that a simple tool like a geometrical micrometer can produce reliable results in forensic entomology. Newly hatched larvae of L. sericata and C. vicina were killed with hot water (HW) and divided into two equal subsamples. Lengths of all larvae were measured immediately after killing, then every 24h until day 4, and once more after 7days of storage in ≥70%-ethanol. L. sericata larvae only showed significant changes in length in the HW group stored at room temperature. After 4 and 7days of storage, these 24-h- and 72-h-old larvae showed a significant decrease in length compared with those in a fridge at 6°C. This decrease can, however, be considered a negligible natural variation without forensically relevant consequences for larval age estimation of L. sericata samples. For C. vicina, an increase in length was observed over time. This was significant only for younger larvae (24-48h old) stored in 70%-ethanol. This variance in length can lead to a wrong estimation of age; however, only for larvae stored in 70%-ethanol, not for those stored in 96%-ethanol. NOVELTY STATEMENT We examined the influence of different killing and storing methods on two forensically important blow flies, Lucilia sericata and Calliphora vicina. For the latter species we additionally were evaluating three different length measurement methods. The results of both experiments suggest that it is possible to kill and store fly larvae directly in (not hot) ≥70%-ethanol. This simplifies the sampling and storing of fly evidence at the crime scene. We also compared the influence of three different measuring methods for estimating the length of L1-L3 C. vicina larvae by using a) a ruler with a 0,1mm scaling, b) a geometrical micrometer and c) a computer-aided stereomicroscope. No significant differences were detected, supporting the view, that a simple tool like a geometrical micrometer can produce reliable results. This study helps to simplify the sampling and evaluation of entomological evidence and to backup or questioning existing guidelines and best practice recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Bugelli
- Dept. of Medicine and Health Sciences (DiMeS), University of Molise, via De Sanctis, snc, - 86100 Campobasso, Italy; Institute of Forensic Medicine, Department of Biology, Goethe-University, Kennedyallee 104, 60596 Frankfurt, Germany.
| | - Carlo Pietro Campobasso
- Dept. of Medicine and Health Sciences (DiMeS), University of Molise, via De Sanctis, snc, - 86100 Campobasso, Italy; Dept. of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples (SUN), via Santa Maria di Costantinopoli, 80138 - Naples, Italy
| | - Marcel A Verhoff
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Department of Biology, Goethe-University, Kennedyallee 104, 60596 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jens Amendt
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Department of Biology, Goethe-University, Kennedyallee 104, 60596 Frankfurt, Germany
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A preliminary identification of insect successive wave in Egypt on control and zinc phosphide-intoxicated animals in different seasons. EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejfs.2016.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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Magni PA, Pazzi M, Vincenti M, Alladio E, Brandimarte M, Dadour IR. Development and validation of a GC–MS method for nicotine detection in Calliphora vomitoria (L.) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Forensic Sci Int 2016; 261:53-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2015] [Revised: 11/23/2015] [Accepted: 11/25/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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25
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Bévalot F, Cartiser N, Bottinelli C, Guitton J, Fanton L. State of the art in bile analysis in forensic toxicology. Forensic Sci Int 2016; 259:133-54. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.10.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2015] [Revised: 10/17/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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26
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Karampela S, Pistos C, Moraitis K, Stoukas V, Papoutsis I, Zorba E, Koupparis M, Spiliopoulou C, Athanaselis S. Development and validation of a LC/MS method for the determination of Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol and 11-carboxy-Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol in the larvae of the blowfly Lucilia sericata: Forensic applications. Sci Justice 2015; 55:472-80. [PMID: 26654083 DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2015.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2015] [Revised: 05/27/2015] [Accepted: 06/02/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
In a number of forensic toxicological cases, Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its metabolite 11-carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCA) are frequently considered as contributor factors to the event. To that, a liquid chromatographic mass spectrometric method is described for the identification and quantitation of THC and its metabolite THCA in the forensically important larvae of L. sericata. Larvae of Lucilia sericata were fortified with varying concentrations of THC and THCA covering the calibration range between 10 and 500pg/mg. For the isolation of the analytes from larvae, several extraction techniques were evaluated and finally liquid-liquid extraction under acidic pH was selected using hexane-ethyl acetate (50:50, v/v) as extraction solvent. For the chromatographic separation, a Waters Symmetry® C18 analytical column was used while the mobile phase was acetonitrile-ammonium acetate (2mM) (30:70, v/v). The detection was performed using electrospray ionization source in negative mode (ESI-) and the selected ions monitored were m/z 313 for THC and m/z 343 for THCA. The proposed method which is simple and sufficiently sensitive for the detection of THC and THCA even in a single larva sampling, assisted the investigation of a forensic case.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sevasti Karampela
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Athens 11527, Greece; Division of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Athens 15771, Greece.
| | - Constantinos Pistos
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Athens 11527, Greece.
| | - Konstantinos Moraitis
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Athens 11527, Greece.
| | - Vasilios Stoukas
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Athens 11527, Greece.
| | - Ioannis Papoutsis
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Athens 11527, Greece.
| | - Eleni Zorba
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Athens 11527, Greece.
| | - Michalis Koupparis
- Division of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Athens 15771, Greece.
| | - Chara Spiliopoulou
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Athens 11527, Greece.
| | - Sotiris Athanaselis
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Athens 11527, Greece.
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de Aguiar França J, Brandão M, Sodré FF, Caldas ED. Simultaneous determination of prescription drugs, cocaine, aldicarb and metabolites in larvae from decomposed corpses by LC–MS–MS after solid–liquid extraction with low temperature partitioning. Forensic Toxicol 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s11419-014-0255-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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28
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Effects of methamphetamine and its primary human metabolite, p-hydroxymethamphetamine, on the development of the Australian blowfly Calliphora stygia. Forensic Sci Int 2014; 241:102-11. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2013] [Revised: 04/06/2014] [Accepted: 05/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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29
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Oliveira JS, Baia TC, Gama RA, Lima KM. Development of a novel non-destructive method based on spectral fingerprint for determination of abused drug in insects: An alternative entomotoxicology approach. Microchem J 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2014.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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30
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Lü Z, Zhai X, Zhou H, Li P, Ma J, Guan L, Mo Y. Effects of Ketamine on the Development of forensically important BlowflyChrysomya megacephala(F.) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and its Forensic Relevance. J Forensic Sci 2014; 59:991-6. [DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.12430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2012] [Revised: 05/23/2013] [Accepted: 06/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhou Lü
- Forensic Medicine Institute; Henan University of Science and Technology; No. 31 Anhui Road Jianxi District Luoyang Henan 471003 China
| | - Xiandun Zhai
- Forensic Medicine Institute; Henan University of Science and Technology; No. 31 Anhui Road Jianxi District Luoyang Henan 471003 China
| | - Haimei Zhou
- Forensic Medicine Institute; Henan University of Science and Technology; No. 31 Anhui Road Jianxi District Luoyang Henan 471003 China
| | - Pu Li
- Forensic Medicine Institute; Henan University of Science and Technology; No. 31 Anhui Road Jianxi District Luoyang Henan 471003 China
| | - Jinqi Ma
- Forensic Medicine Institute; Henan University of Science and Technology; No. 31 Anhui Road Jianxi District Luoyang Henan 471003 China
| | - Ling Guan
- Forensic Medicine Institute; Henan University of Science and Technology; No. 31 Anhui Road Jianxi District Luoyang Henan 471003 China
| | - Yaonan Mo
- Forensic Medicine Institute; Henan University of Science and Technology; No. 31 Anhui Road Jianxi District Luoyang Henan 471003 China
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Souza CM, Lima CGP, Alves MJ, Arrais-Silva WW, Giorgio S, Linhares AX, Thyssen PJ. Standardization of histological procedures for the detection of toxic substances by immunohistochemistry in Dipteran larvae of forensic importance. J Forensic Sci 2013; 58:1015-21. [PMID: 23682832 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.12140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2011] [Revised: 03/06/2012] [Accepted: 06/02/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Immunohistochemistry (IHC) technique is an alternative toxicological analysis to detect drugs in insects of forensic importance, but it requires thorough histological procedures. In this study, we tested different fixatives--phosphate-buffered paraformaldehyde 4% (PP), Carnoy's fluid (CF), Kahle's solution (KS), ethanol in different concentrations, and ethanol associated to PP and CF, time of fixation and histological processes for dipteran larvae's tissue, aiming to develop a sample preparation protocol for IHC application. A suitable fixation was achieved using PP for 12 and 24 h, CF for 3 h, 70% ethanol for 19 days, and 70% ethanol/CF for 2 h/3 h. Postfixation using negative pressure, two immersions in xylene for 30 min each, and one in xylene plus paraffin for 45 min increased tissue preservation. An immunohistochemical test for cocaine detection was performed using monoclonal benzoylecgonine antibody from mouse, peroxidase-conjugated anti-mouse IgG and visualized by 3,3'-diaminobenzidine method showed these histological procedures didn't compromise antigenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina M Souza
- Department of Animal Biology, IB, UNICAMP, Distrito de Barão Geraldo, Campinas, São Paulo, CEP 13083-970, Brazil
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Zou Y, Huang M, Huang R, Wu X, You Z, Lin J, Huang X, Qiu X, Zhang S. Effect of ketamine on the development of Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and preliminary pathological observation of larvae. Forensic Sci Int 2013; 226:273-81. [PMID: 23434378 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2013.01.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2012] [Revised: 12/02/2012] [Accepted: 01/27/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The estimation of postmortem interval (PMI) based on the growth patterns of necrophagous arthropods is the main mission of forensic entomology in practice. The larval development rates can be affected by various drugs or toxins, causing deviation in PMI estimate. Ketamine is a widely used anesthetic and recreational drug in Asia, which is rarely focused on in the previous entomotoxicological studies. The present work investigated the effect of ketamine on the development of Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) by the measurement of body length and weight and the analysis of relationship between the ketamine effect and drug dosage or time interval, meanwhile the difference between ketamine effect on larval body length and weight was also analyzed. Additionally, the preliminary pathological observation of larvae was also employed for evaluating the drug effect in morphology. Significant differences were observed between control and treatment colonies of L. sericata at each life stage, and the effect of ketamine displayed a dosage-and-time-dependent manner, but no differences were noticed between the effects of ketamine on larval body length and weight, which provided a useful indication for larvae sample collection in practice. The pathological observation revealed that ketamine could promote the growth of trophocytes in fat body of L. sericata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zou
- Department of Pathology, The First Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, No. 20 Chazhong Road, Fuzhou 350005, People's Republic of China.
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Determination of methylphenidate in Calliphorid larvae by liquid–liquid extraction and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry – Forensic entomotoxicology using an in vivo rat brain model. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2012; 70:456-61. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2012.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2012] [Revised: 06/12/2012] [Accepted: 06/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Rashid RA, Zulkifli NF, Rashid RA, bt Rosli SF, Sulaiman SHS, Ahmad NW. Effects of Ketum extract on blowfly Chrysomya megacephala development and detection of mitragynine in larvae sample. 2012 IEEE SYMPOSIUM ON BUSINESS, ENGINEERING AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS 2012. [DOI: 10.1109/isbeia.2012.6422898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
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de Carvalho LML, Linhares AX, Badan Palhares FA. The effect of cocaine on the development rate of immatures and adults of Chrysomya albiceps and Chrysomya putoria (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and its importance to postmortem interval estimate. Forensic Sci Int 2012; 220:27-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2012.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2011] [Revised: 12/27/2011] [Accepted: 01/12/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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36
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Baumjohann K, Schiwy-Bochat KH, Rothschild MA. Maggots reveal a case of antemortal insect infestation. Int J Legal Med 2011; 125:487-92. [PMID: 21534007 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-011-0571-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2010] [Accepted: 04/01/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Baumjohann
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital of Cologne, Melatenguertel 60-62, 50823 Cologne, Germany.
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Abd El-bar M, Sawaby R. A preliminary investigation of insect colonization and succession on remains of rabbits treated with an organophosphate insecticide in El-Qalyubiya Governorate of Egypt. Forensic Sci Int 2011; 208:e26-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2009] [Revised: 09/18/2010] [Accepted: 10/06/2010] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Barroso M, Gallardo E, Vieira DN, Queiroz JA, López-Rivadulla M. Bioanalytical procedures and recent developments in the determination of opiates/opioids in human biological samples. Anal Bioanal Chem 2011; 400:1665-90. [PMID: 21442365 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-011-4888-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2010] [Revised: 03/06/2011] [Accepted: 03/08/2011] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The use and abuse of illegal drugs affects all modern societies, and therefore the assessment of drug exposure is an important task that needs to be accomplished. For this reason, the reliable determination of these drugs and their metabolites in biological specimens is an issue of utmost relevance for both clinical and forensic toxicology laboratories in their fields of expertise, including in utero drug exposure, driving under the influence of drugs and drug use in workplace scenarios. Most of the confirmatory analyses for abused drugs in biological samples are performed by gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric methods, but use of the more recent and sensitive liquid chromatography-(tandem) mass spectrometry technology is increasing dramatically. This article reviews recently published articles that describe procedures for the detection of opiates in the most commonly used human biological matrices, blood and urine, and also in unconventional ones, e.g. oral fluid, hair, and meconium. Special attention will be paid to sample preparation and chromatographic analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Barroso
- Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal-Delegação do Sul, Rua Manuel Bento de Sousa, 3, 1150-219 Lisboa, Portugal.
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Gosselin M, Wille SMR, Fernandez MDMR, Di Fazio V, Samyn N, De Boeck G, Bourel B. Entomotoxicology, experimental set-up and interpretation for forensic toxicologists. Forensic Sci Int 2011; 208:1-9. [PMID: 21237593 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2010] [Revised: 12/09/2010] [Accepted: 12/19/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Forensic entomotoxicology studies the usefulness of insects as alternative toxicological samples. Use of insects as alternative matrix for drug detection is well documented and recommended when conventional matrices such as blood, urine or internal organs are no longer available. However, several limitations of entomotoxicology have been highlighted, especially concerning interpretation of the drug concentrations in insects on human forensic cases. In addition, the lack of knowledge in pharmacokinetic of drugs in insects, large variability of experimental set-up and toxicological analysis compromise the utility of this science. This review focuses on the current knowledge of factors influencing drug detection in insects. Reasons for the current limitations, but also recommendations for future research are discussed and proposed in this paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Gosselin
- Laboratory of Toxicology, National Institute of Criminalistics and Criminology, Brussels, Belgium.
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Amendt J, Richards CS, Campobasso CP, Zehner R, Hall MJR. Forensic entomology: applications and limitations. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2011; 7:379-92. [PMID: 21213072 DOI: 10.1007/s12024-010-9209-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 266] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/29/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J Amendt
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Kennedyallee 104, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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41
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Bio-sample preparation and analytical methods for the determination of tricyclic antidepressants. Bioanalysis 2011; 3:97-118. [DOI: 10.4155/bio.10.160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
An extended and comprehensive review is presented herein, focusing on sample preparation (pretreatment and extraction) and different analytical methods applied for the quantification of tricyclic antidepressants. These procedures are relevant tools in clinical and forensic toxicology. It is revealed that SPE, for sample preparation, and HPLC, using reversed-phase alkyl (C18) or cyanopropyl-bonded silica columns for the analytes separation, are effective and versatile methods for assay of tricyclic antidepressants. These methods enable achievable detection limits using UV/diode array detection, readily available in most laboratories, down to 1–8 ng ml-1, and using electron capture detection better than 1 ng ml-1, which is lower than that for nitrogen–phosphorus detector. MS interfaced with electrospray ionization offered similar sensitivity, whilst sonic spray ionization provided detection down to 0.03 ng ml-1. A brief discussion on chemical structures, metabolism and mechanism of action of this group of drugs is also presented.
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Verheyden K, Noppe H, Zorn H, Van Immerseel F, Vanden Bussche J, Wille K, Bekaert K, Janssen CR, De Brabander HF, Vanhaecke L. Endogenous boldenone-formation in cattle: alternative invertebrate organisms to elucidate the enzymatic pathway and the potential role of edible fungi on cattle's feed. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2010; 119:161-70. [PMID: 20197090 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2010.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2009] [Revised: 02/21/2010] [Accepted: 02/22/2010] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Although beta-boldenone (bBol) used to be a marker of illegal steroid administration in calves, its endogenous formation has recently been demonstrated in these vertebrates. However, research on the pathway leading to bBol remains scarce. This study shows the usefulness of in vivo invertebrate models as alternatives to vertebrate animal experiments, using Neomysis integer and Lucilia sericata. In accordance with vertebrates, androstenedione (AED) was the main metabolite of beta-testosterone (bT) produced by these invertebrates, and bBol was also frequently detected. Moreover, in vitro experiments using feed-borne fungi and microsomes were useful to perform the pathway from bT to bBol. Even the conversion of phytosterols into steroids was shown in vitro. Both in vivo and in vitro, the conversion of bT into bBol could be demonstrated in this study. Metabolism of phytosterols by feed-borne fungi may be of particular importance to explain the endogenous bBol-formation by cattle. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time the latter pathway is described in literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Verheyden
- Ghent University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Research Group of Veterinary Public Health and Zoonoses, Laboratory of Chemical Analysis, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
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43
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Oliveira HG, Gomes G, Morlin Jr JJ, Von Zuben CJ, Linhares AX. The Effect of Buscopan®on the Development of the Blow FlyChrysomya megacephala(F.) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). J Forensic Sci 2009; 54:202-6. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2008.00926.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Codeine accumulation and elimination in larvae, pupae, and imago of the blowfly Lucilia sericata and effects on its development. Int J Legal Med 2007; 122:205-11. [DOI: 10.1007/s00414-007-0217-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2007] [Accepted: 10/26/2007] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Definis-Gojanović M, Sutlović D, Britvić D, Kokan B. Drug Analysis in Necrophagous Flies and Human Tissues. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol 2007; 58:313-6. [PMID: 17913685 DOI: 10.2478/v10004-007-0022-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug Analysis in Necrophagous Flies and Human TissuesNecrophagous insects may provide useful information about the time, place and cause of death. In addition, they can serve as reliable alternative specimens for toxicological analysis in cases where human tissue and fluids, normally taken during autopsies, are not available, due to decomposition of the corpse. This paper reports the results of drug analysis of the larvae of two fly families, Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae, collected from the body of a middle-aged man who had committed suicide approximately three weeks before his corpse was found. Multiple samples of decomposed human tissue, of the blowfly, and of the larval flesh were analysed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and amphetamine was detected in all samples. While the screening results were beyond doubt, the quantitative analysis was less clear, and further research is needed in this area.
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46
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Verheyden K, Noppe H, Mortier V, Vercruysse J, Claerebout E, Van Immerseel F, Janssen CR, De Brabander HF. Formation of boldenone and boldenone-analogues by maggots of Lucilia sericata. Anal Chim Acta 2007; 586:163-70. [PMID: 17386708 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2006.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2006] [Revised: 10/23/2006] [Accepted: 11/03/2006] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Current evidence suggests that neo formation of the anabolic steroid boldenone (androsta-1,4-diene-17-ol-3-one) occurs in calves' faecal material, making it difficult to distinguish between illegally administered boldenone and its potential endogenous presence. This strengthens the urgent need to elucidate the pathway leading to boldenone formation. In our laboratory, the invertebrate Neomysis integer (Crustacea, Mysidacea) was used since 2004 as an alternative model for the partial replacement of vertebrate animals in metabolisation studies with illegal growth promotors and veterinary drugs, e.g. boldenone. The present study evaluates the metabolic capacity of other invertebrates, the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana and maggots of the greenbottle fly Lucilia sericata. The first results indicate that maggots of L. sericata are able to convert phytosterols and -stanols, nowadays in substantial amounts added to animal feed, into androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (ADD), the precursor of boldenone, at a yield of 0.10-0.14% (p<0.001, significance compared to endogenous excretion of maggots) but not to boldenone itself. Furthermore, beta-testosterone, an endogenous hormone, was transformed into androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (AED), ADD and beta-boldenone at a significant (p<0.001, significance compared to endogenous excretion of maggots) yield of circa 13%, 0.80% and 2.2%, respectively. In future studies these results are of value to further evaluate the use of maggots of L. sericata as an invertebrate model in metabolisation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Verheyden
- Research Group Veterinary Public Health and Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Chemical Analysis and Parasitology, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
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47
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Affiliation(s)
- B Brinkmann
- Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Röntgenstrasse 23, 48149, Münster, Germany.
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