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Di Nunzio M, Della Valle A, Serino A, Corrado F, Di Nunzio C. How the forensic multidisciplinary approach can solve a fatal dog pack attack. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2023:10.1007/s12024-023-00746-8. [PMID: 37940786 DOI: 10.1007/s12024-023-00746-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
The authors present the case of a 61-year-old man found dead in an agricultural plot. The first investigation of the scene revealed the corpse laid face up in a spot of partially dried blood, next to an olive tree. His face, arms, legs, and abdomen showed signs of severe contusion and laceration of dogs' bite wounds. Next to the victim, an olives bin had been found overturned on the ground. A multi-disciplinary approach, including crime scene analysis, autopsy findings, veterinary animals review, odontologist bite mark study, and forensic genetics DNA correlations, was performed. The present case is a documented watchdogs lethal pack attack and provides an example of how to recognize the more active participants thanks to their odontological alterations. It could be considered the first described dog pack attack case solved by dysgnathia alteration. Comparisons between the dental casts obtained from the dogs and the inflicted wounds were made, resulting in positive correlations between the injuries and the dental arches from two of the six involved dogs, thanks to dental abnormalities and DNA founding. The victim's clothes were also compared with the dogs' dental casts, confirming that they were the most active participants during the pack attack. Dogs' DNA was finally matched with saliva traces found on victim's clothes and skin bite marks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - A Serino
- Hospital of Caserta, Caserta, Italy
| | - F Corrado
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Portici, Italy
| | - C Di Nunzio
- CEINGE, Napoli, Italy
- Università Degli Studi Di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
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2
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Stroud A, Gamblin A, Birchall P, Harbison S, Opperman S. A comprehensive study into false positive rates for 'other' biological samples using common presumptive testing methods. Sci Justice 2023; 63:414-420. [PMID: 37169467 DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2023.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The identification of biological fluids or materials in forensic samples is a key requirement in forensic science that relies on chemical and biological based tests, most of which exhibit false positivity. When reporting results from such tests, Forensic Scientists use words such as probable, possible, and likely, without always being able to provide robust support for these conclusions. In collating information about false positive rates for a number of these tests, we found limited research into the cross reactions observed from 'other' biological samples in commonly encountered case sample stains. By 'other' we mean biological fluids or materials that are not the primary target of the presumptive test being used. Here we carry out a specificity study to fill gaps in the literature for a number of the presumptive chemical, biological and immunochromatographic tests used to presumptively screen for blood, semen and saliva. The tests selected for this study are the widely used tests: Luminol, TMB/Combur3 Test® E, Kastle-Meyer (KM), RSID™ - Blood, ABAcard® HemaTrace®, Acid Phosphatase (AP), ABAcard® p30, RSID™ - Semen, Phadebas® 'Tube' Test, Phadebas® 'Press' Test, and RSID™ - Saliva tests. Specificity for each of these was tested in known samples, from volunteers, of blood, semen, saliva, urine, sweat, vaginal material, faeces and breast milk, and then false positive rates were determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Stroud
- Forensic Science Program, School of Chemical Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Amelia Gamblin
- Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited, Private Bag 92021, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Penny Birchall
- Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited, Private Bag 92021, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - SallyAnn Harbison
- Forensic Science Program, School of Chemical Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand; Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited, Private Bag 92021, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Stephanie Opperman
- Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited, Private Bag 92021, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
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3
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Matheson CD, Veall MA, Badman LK. A method validation for the hemoglobin chemical reagent test strip with the addition of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid to increase the selectivity of this presumptive test for residual blood. Forensic Sci Int 2022; 332:111203. [PMID: 35123258 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2022.111203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Tetramethylbenzidine based chemical reagent test strips are often used in forensic science as a presumptive test for blood. These tests are designed as urinalysis test strips and include brands such as Combur®, HENSOTest®, Hemastix®, MultiStix® and Chemstrip®. They are used because they are simple to apply, stable, temperature tolerant and cost effective. The addition of a chelating agent, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid increases the selectivity of this presumptive test for blood. This is a method validation for the hemoglobin chemical reagent test strip with EDTA. A range of substances, metal compounds, chemical solutions, blood and mixtures were tested in this method validation. The chelation with EDTA successfully prevented non-blood (false) positive results from all the substances tested and consistently produced a positive result for blood on a variety of surfaces. This study has shown that this method is capable of discriminating a blood stain on copper metal surfaces and eliminate the positive results generated by clean-up solutions such as hydrogen peroxide, which usually produce a positive result for most other presumptive tests for blood. This modified method is a simple, effective and reliable test for blood stains. A variety of variations were evaluated in this study. The simplest method of application was spraying the surface of the stain with a 0.5 M EDTA solution and testing the surface of the stain, and only requires a spray bottle of 0.5 M EDTA and the chemical reagent test strip. This spray approach is rugged and can be applied to horizontal, vertical and underside surfaces and requires little additional training. Overall, this study provides the forensic science community with an improved method more easily used, stored, transported and selective for blood, than luminol and safer than TMB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carney D Matheson
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Rd, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia; Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies, Lakehead University, 955 Oliver Rd., Thunder Bay P7B 5E1, Canada.
| | - Margaret-Ashley Veall
- Conservation Science Division, Canadian Conservation Institute, Department of Canadian Heritage, Government of Canada, 1030 Innes Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1B 4S7, Canada
| | - Lucy K Badman
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Rd, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia
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Caccia G, Cappella A, Castoldi E, Marino A, Colloca D, Amadasi A, Caccianiga M, Lago G, Cattaneo C. Blood and sperm traces on human hair. A study on preservation and detection after 3-month outdoor exposure. Sci Justice 2021; 61:657-666. [PMID: 34802638 DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2021.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Hair can retain important biological traces for forensic investigations. Forensic scientists are used to looking for such traces on clothing and skin of victims, however, when decomposition kicks in and all that remains of the victims is the skeleton, hair may be the only tissue representing the surface of the body at the time of a crime on which biological traces of an aggressor may have been left and still be detectable. Given the lack of research on this topic, this pilot study aims to assess the capacity of hair to retain semen and blood in hair, and the possibility to detect these fluids with well-known techniques and to obtain a useful genetic profile even when exposed to environmental conditions (Open Natural Environment (woods), Open Man Made Environment (urban)) for three months. Results showed that both traces were always visible and detectable with almost all techniques in the Control Environment, while in the two open environments some difficulties arose. However, biomolecular analysis was effective up to three months on both fluids in the Natural Environment and up to two months and one week respectively on blood and semen in the Man Made Environment. The Combur Test, OBTI, and Luminol were effective on blood up to three months in both environments while Sperm-HY-Liter and observation of cellular components were effective on semen up to at least 1 month and PSA testing was positive up to 1 week in both environments. The present work can be considered an encouraging starting point for the analysis of biological traces on hair in forensic contexts, regardless of the PMI, since blood and semen related to a crime may survive.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Caccia
- Labanof (Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense), Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano via L. Mangiagalli 37, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - A Cappella
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la salute, Università degli studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 31, 20133, Milan, Italy; U.O. Laboratorio di Morfologia Umana Applicata, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy
| | - E Castoldi
- Reparto Carabinieri Investigazioni Scientifiche di Parma, Palazzo Ducale - Parco Ducale 3, 43125, Parma, Italy
| | - A Marino
- Reparto Carabinieri Investigazioni Scientifiche di Parma, Palazzo Ducale - Parco Ducale 3, 43125, Parma, Italy
| | - D Colloca
- Reparto Carabinieri Investigazioni Scientifiche di Parma, Palazzo Ducale - Parco Ducale 3, 43125, Parma, Italy
| | - A Amadasi
- Labanof (Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense), Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano via L. Mangiagalli 37, 20133, Milan, Italy; Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, University Medical Centre Charité, University of Berlin, Turmstr.21, Building N, 10559, Berlin, Germany
| | - M Caccianiga
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università di Milano, via Celoria, 26, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - G Lago
- Reparto Carabinieri Investigazioni Scientifiche di Parma, Palazzo Ducale - Parco Ducale 3, 43125, Parma, Italy
| | - C Cattaneo
- Labanof (Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense), Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano via L. Mangiagalli 37, 20133, Milan, Italy
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Saito K, Kogure M, Sonoda A, Ito R. Luminol chemiluminescence reaction: Optimization by image analysis method and use in distinguishing human hemoglobin from potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) by addition of ascorbic acid. Forensic Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2020.100278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Malegori C, Alladio E, Oliveri P, Manis C, Vincenti M, Garofano P, Barni F, Berti A. Identification of invisible biological traces in forensic evidences by hyperspectral NIR imaging combined with chemometrics. Talanta 2020; 215:120911. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2020.120911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Thanakiatkrai P, Raham K, Pradutkanchana J, Sotthibandhu S, Kitpipit T. Direct-STR typing from presumptively-tested and untreated body fluids. Forensic Sci Int Genet 2017; 30:1-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2017.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Revised: 05/04/2017] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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