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Almutawa MY, Al-Khalifa MS, Al-Dhafer HM, Abdel-Dayem MS, Ebaid H, Ahmed AM. Forensic investigation of carcass decomposition and dipteran fly composition over the summer and winter: a comparative analysis of indoor versus outdoor at a multi-story building. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2024; 61:877-890. [PMID: 38493302 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjae039] [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: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to explore the rate of decomposition of rabbit carcasses and the succession pattern of the associated dipteran flies outdoor, indoor, and on the roof of a 4-story building during the summer and winter. A total of 6,069 flies were recorded, with 30.91% reported as 2 waves outdoor and on the roof in the summer and 69.09% as 4 waves outdoor in the winter. The roof showed the most flies in the summer but the least in the winter, whereas the outdoor showed the most in the winter but the least in the summer. The ground and first floors showed the most indoor flies, while the second and third floors showed the least in both seasons. Indoor carcasses decomposed slower than those outdoor, and those on the second and third floors decomposed slower than those on the ground and first floors. Ten fly species from 8 families were identified in the winter, compared to 6 from 5 families in the summer. The most abundant species was Musca domestica Linnaeus (Muscidae) on the roof in the summer, while it was Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemannn) (Calliphoridae) outdoor in the winter. The rare species (singletons) were Musca sp. (Muscidae) and Megaselia scalaris (Loew) (Phoridae) on the first floor in both seasons, Scaptomyza pallida (Zetterstedt) (Drosophilidae) on the ground floor in the summer, and Atherigona orientalis Schiner (Muscidae) outdoor in the winter. These data highlight the variance in carcass decomposition and fly composition across outdoor, indoor, and the roof of human dwellings, which could be of forensic importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masha'el Y Almutawa
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed S Al-Khalifa
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hathal M Al-Dhafer
- Plant Protection Department, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mahmoud S Abdel-Dayem
- Plant Protection Department, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hossam Ebaid
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ashraf M Ahmed
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Jones AK, Hidayah Shamsuddin N, Chin Heo C. Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae): A potentially forgotten forensically important species in Malaysia. Sci Justice 2024; 64:339-346. [PMID: 39025559 DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2024.04.006] [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: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) has been collected in human forensic case work. This species is endemic in Malaysia but is not one of the most common species and is often found in outdoor cases. However, it is hypothesized that the presence of L. cuprina larvae may provide useful information in forensic case studies in Malaysia where this species has previously been ignored. This review will discuss the current background knowledge on L. cuprina, particularly when it comes to other forensic cases in Malaysia. General biology as well as key information for forensic work such as geographical distribution and developmental data will be reviewed. Finally, we discuss the potential for L. cuprina to provide beneficial and unique forensic insight into indoor cases with refuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abby K Jones
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Jalan Hospital, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Nur Hidayah Shamsuddin
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Hospital Sungai Buloh, Jalan Hospital, 47000 Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Chong Chin Heo
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Jalan Hospital, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia; Institute of Pathology, Laboratory and Forensic Medicine (I-PPerForM), Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Jalan Hospital, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia.
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Zhang Y, Li L, Liao M, Kang C, Hu G, Guo Y, Wang Y, Wang J. Development of Megaselia scalaris at constant temperatures and its significance in estimating the time of death. Int J Legal Med 2024; 138:97-106. [PMID: 37016192 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-023-02993-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023]
Abstract
Megaselia scalaris (Schmitz, 1938) (Diptera: Phoridae) is a common insect in forensic science that is frequently found in indoor cases, particularly on corpses in closed environments. Although this species is useful for estimating the minimum postmortem interval (PMImin) in the absence of Calliphoridae, there is a lack of data on its development in China. Herein, we studied the development of M. scalaris exposed to seven constant temperatures ranging from 16 to 34 °C. The mean (± SD) developmental durations of M. scalaris from egg to adult stage at 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, and 34 °C were 1486.9 ± 75.3, 823.7 ± 42.8, 448.2 ± 59.8, 417.7 ± 19.7, 297.2 ± 27.3, 272.9 ± 10.4, and 253.0 ± 5.0 h, respectively. The mean (± SE) lower developmental threshold temperature (TL) and the thermal summation constant (K) were determined by a linear model as 12.69 ± 0.3 °C and 4965.8 ± 227.9-degree hours, respectively. A nonlinear model estimated the lower developmental threshold temperature, intrinsic optimum temperature, and upper lethal developmental threshold temperature as 14.58, 21.00, and 34.15 °C, respectively. We established three development models to estimate the age of the immature insect, namely the isomegalen diagram, isomorphen diagram, and thermal summation model. In addition, a regression analysis of the relationship between body length and total development time from hatching to pupariation was performed. Our findings provide a basis for applications of M. scalaris in PMImin estimations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Zhang
- 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
| | - Mingqing Liao
- Criminal Police Branch, Zhongshan Public Security Bureau, Zhongshan, China
| | - Chengtao Kang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou, 215000, China
| | - Gengwang Hu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou, 215000, China
| | - Yi Guo
- 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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Gunawardena SA, Abeyratne P, Jayasena A, Rajapaksha S, Senadhipathi H, Siriwardana D, Vindula N, Perera C, Peiris D. Retrospective analysis of factors affecting rate of skeletonization within a tropical climate. Sci Justice 2023; 63:638-650. [PMID: 37718011 DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2023.08.001] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Estimating the post mortem interval (PMI) in skeletonized cases is an extremely challenging exercise. Sri Lanka lacks adequate taphonomic research which is a serious limitation when assessing PMI in forensic death investigations. Methods that have been proposed to estimate PMI using the total body score (TBS) and accumulated degree days (ADD) are mainly based on data from continental and temperate climates and have shown less reliability in tropical climates. With the intention of developing a region-specific, evidence-based guide which would be applicable to tropical climates like Sri Lanka, we selected thirteen skeletonized remains with known PMIs from forensic case records and analysed their taphonomy in relation to selected weather data. We also compared the ADD values within our dataset with reference ranges calculated using published formula. All except one were found from outdoor locations. The TBS ranged from 24 to 32 and had a weak positive correlation with the PMI. The earliest appearance of skeletonization was 15 days in a body found indoors. The highest rate of skeletonization was seen in a body with a TBS of 32 and a PMI of 23 days. The average daily temperature and relative humidity were similar across all the cases however, the amount of rainfall varied. Bodies exposed to monsoon rains (n = 6) had a lower mean rate of skeletonization compared to those that were not exposed (n = 4) suggesting lower rates of decomposition during periods of heavy rainfall. No correlation was found between ADD and TBS. In 9 (69.2%) cases, the actual ADD was much lower than reference ADD ranges for TBS values, indicating poor applicability of TBS and ADD based formulae in estimating PMI within the Sri Lankan climate. Our study shows a strong need for taphonomic and entomological research in tropical climates to further explore the impact of monsoons on biotic and abiotic factors affecting skeletonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sameera A Gunawardena
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka; Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Pravini Abeyratne
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | | | | | - Hashan Senadhipathi
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Dulanka Siriwardana
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Nimath Vindula
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Clifford Perera
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka
| | - Dinesh Peiris
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
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Guo Y, Hu G, Li L, Liao M, Wang J, Wang Y, Tao L. Developmental Indicators of Chrysomya nigripes Aubertin under Different Constant Temperature Conditions and an Application Case for Estimating the PMI min. INSECTS 2023; 14:729. [PMID: 37754697 PMCID: PMC10532226 DOI: 10.3390/insects14090729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Chrysomya nigripes Aubertin, 1932, is a Calliphoridae species that colonize the carcass after the bloat phase and remains for long periods. Some early sarcosaprophagous insects complete one generation of development and are no longer associated with the corpse and surrounding environment, while C. nigripes larvae and pupae remain, providing a basis for the estimation of the minimum postmortem interval (PMImin) for highly decomposed or skeletonized carcasses. However, data on the growth and development of this species are not yet complete. As a result, we studied the developmental patterns of C. nigripes at eight constant temperatures ranging from 16-37 °C and constructed various developmental models, including the isomorphen diagram, isomegalen diagram, linear thermal summation model, nonlinear thermodynamic Optim SSI model, and logistic regression model. Chrysomya nigripes could not complete the entire developmental process at 16 °C, although it could be completed at other temperatures. The mean developmental times (±SD) of C. nigripes from egg to adult at 19 °C, 22 °C, 25 °C, 28 °C, 31 °C, 34 °C, and 37 °C were 644.9 ± 36.8 h, 422.9 ± 20.1 h, 323.1 ± 13.9 h, 246.6 ± 11.2 h, 202.5 ± 1.8 h, 191.5 ± 3.8 h, and 191.8 ± 2.0 h, respectively. The thermal summation constant (K) and lower critical thermal threshold (TL) derived from the linear thermal summation models were 4083.00 ± 293.39 degree hours and 12.52 ± 0.83 °C, respectively. In addition, TL, intrinsic optimum temperature (TΦ), and upper critical thermal threshold (TH) estimated by the optimized nonlinear thermodynamic Optim SSI model were 15.76 °C, 24.88 °C, and 38.15 °C, respectively. This study provides more comprehensive developmental data of C. nigripes for PMImin estimation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Guo
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, China; (Y.G.); (G.H.); (L.L.); (J.W.); (L.T.)
| | - Gengwang Hu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, China; (Y.G.); (G.H.); (L.L.); (J.W.); (L.T.)
| | - Liangliang Li
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, China; (Y.G.); (G.H.); (L.L.); (J.W.); (L.T.)
| | - Mingqing Liao
- Criminal Police Branch, Zhongshan Public Security Bureau, Zhongshan 528400, China;
| | - Jiangfeng Wang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, China; (Y.G.); (G.H.); (L.L.); (J.W.); (L.T.)
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, China; (Y.G.); (G.H.); (L.L.); (J.W.); (L.T.)
| | - Luyang Tao
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, China; (Y.G.); (G.H.); (L.L.); (J.W.); (L.T.)
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Yan WL, Yang CH, Tan SH, Pai CY, Li KK, Chung CC. The Study of Forensically Important Insects Recovered from Human Corpses in Taiwan. INSECTS 2023; 14:346. [PMID: 37103159 PMCID: PMC10141353 DOI: 10.3390/insects14040346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
A study of entomological specimens recovered from 117 human corpses in 114 forensic cases was conducted in Taiwan between 2011 and 2018. The comparisons and discussions of the entomological data were based on the locations (indoor vs. outdoor), environments (urban vs. suburban), season and decomposition stages of corpses. In the study, both morphology and DNA-based comparison methods were used to facilitate species identification. In total, nine families and twenty-two species were thus identified. The two most abundant fly species recovered from human corpses were Chrysomya megacephala (35.1%, 1735 out of 4949) and Chrysomya rufifacies (21.7%, 1072 out of 4949). As for case frequency, both the two were also the most common fly species (both 40%, 46 out of 114), particularly in outdoor cases (also both 74%, 25 out of 34). We found that Chrysomya pinguis and Lucilia porphyrina appeared in low temperature scenes in this study. Synthesiomyia nudiseta was the most common species detected on indoor (36%, 29 out of 80 cases) and urban (41%, 22 out of 54 cases) corpses. Sarcophagidae were strongly associated with urban environments (35%, 19 out of 54 cases), and Parasarcophaga (Liosarcophaga) dux, Liopygia ruficornis and Boettcherisca peregrina were the most frequent sarcophagid species collected from corpses. Hydrotaea spinigera was often found on corpses immersed in water (60%, three out of five cases) with advanced decay or remains stages. Megaselia scalaris was closely correlated with indoor cases (24%, 19 out of 80). In addition, Piophila megastigmata was collected from a corpse in the remains stage and the data represent the first report in Taiwan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Lun Yan
- Department of Forensic Science, Central Police University, No. 56, Shuren Rd., Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City 333322, Taiwan
- Forensic Science Center, Taoyuan Police Department, No. 3, Xianfu Rd., Taoyuan Dist., Taoyuan City 330206, Taiwan
| | - Chiou-Herr Yang
- Department of Forensic Science, Central Police University, No. 56, Shuren Rd., Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City 333322, Taiwan
| | - Siew Hwa Tan
- Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Chung-Yen Pai
- Department of Criminal Investigation, Central Police University, No. 56, Shuren Rd., Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City 333322, Taiwan
| | - Kan-Kun Li
- Department of Forensic Science, Central Police University, No. 56, Shuren Rd., Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City 333322, Taiwan
- Forensic Science Center, Tainan Police Department, No. 3, Zhongzheng Rd., Xinying Dist., Tainan City 730207, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Chou Chung
- Department of Forensic Science, Central Police University, No. 56, Shuren Rd., Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City 333322, Taiwan
- Forensic Science Section, Hualien County Police Department, No. 21, Fuqian Rd., Hualien City 970018, Taiwan
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Shao S, Hu G, Li L, Sheng Y, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Guo Y, Kang C, Xu W, Chen J, Wang J, Wang Y. Estimating the intra-puparial period of Hydrotaea spinigera (Stein,1910) (Diptera: Muscidae) with morphological and gene expression changes. Acta Trop 2023; 242:106910. [PMID: 36963598 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023]
Abstract
Hydrotaea spinigera (Stein, 1910) (Diptera: Muscidae) is a forensically important sarcosaprophagous species widely distributed throughout the Oriental and Australasian regions. At the advanced decomposition stage or the skeletonize stage, the immature stages of H. spinigera, especially the pupae, can still be found in large quantities and could be used as important indicators to estimate the minimum postmortem interval (PMImin). However, there have been no studies on the intra-puparial period of this species. Herein, we studied morphological and differential gene expression changes during the intra-puparial development of H. spinigera, aiming to accurately estimate the intra-puparial age of H. spinigera. The intra-puparial morphological changes of H. spinigera were observed at seven constant temperatures ranging from 16°C to 34°C and divided into 12 sub-stages. Structures that could be used to estimate the intra-puparial age, such as compound eyes, mouthparts, antennae, thorax, legs, wings, and abdomen, were observed in detail, and the developmental process of each structure was divided into 5 to 10 stages. The time range of each sub-stage, or when a structure appeared, was recorded. For the gene expression section, the most suitable reference genes were screened by geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and ΔCt methods. Based on the selected reference genes, real-time quantitative PCR (RT qPCR) was used to detect the expression changes of the white and hsp90 genes with developmental time at 19°C, 25°C, and 31°C. Results showed that the trend of Hsp90 gene expression under different temperatures was not consistent, while white genes exhibited regular changes during development, and could thus be used for age estimation of H. spinigera. This study provides an important basis for forensic entomology to use morphological and differential gene expression for estimating the age of H. spinigera during the intra-puparial period. Moreover, the combination of the two methods can produce a more accurate minimum postmortem interval (PMImin) estimate compared to when each method is used separately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shipeng Shao
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Gengwang Hu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Liangliang Li
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Yi Sheng
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Yinghui Wang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Yanan Zhang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Yi Guo
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Chengtao Kang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Wang Xu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Clinical Experimental Center, Xi'an International Medical Center Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710100, China
| | - Jiangfeng Wang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou, China.
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Abdullah SR, Shafie MS, Wahid SA. Forensically important fly larvae on floating corpses in Malaysia: three case reports. EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1186/s41935-022-00275-5] [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
Understanding how environmental conditions can influence the insect distribution on corpses is essential to determine the postmortem interval. However, literatures related to forensically important flies in an aquatic environment were scarce. We report herewith a case series comprising three forensic cases related to floating corpses infested with fly larvae in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Case presentation
Case 1 involved the corpse of a 43-year old male found in the waterside of an abandoned mine. Case 2 was a 40-year-old male floating on a river stream, while case 3 was an 11-year-old boy who was found trapped in a monsoon drain after heavy rain. Numerous larvae of various stages, identified as Chrysomya megacephala (Calliphoridae) species, were collected in all cases even though the number of larvae was relatively lower compared to those usually collected on corpses found on terrestrial areas. Besides, the larvae of Eristalis spp. (Syrphidae), which are known to be exclusively associated with water bodies, were found in two of the cases. The blowfly Ch. rufifacies (Calliphoridae) larvae were collected only in case 3.
Conclusions
These findings show that both Ch. megacephala and Ch. rufifacies can be found in the ecologically varied death scene habitats including aquatic areas. Meanwhile, the presence of Eristalis spp. can be used as an indicator of death location associated with an aquatic environment. The challenges and limitations of analyzing entomological evidence on bodies discovered in aquatic environments were also discussed.
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The Postmortem Interval of Two Decedents and Two Dog Carcasses at the Same Scene Based on Forensic Entomology. INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13020215. [PMID: 35206788 PMCID: PMC8876788 DOI: 10.3390/insects13020215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary This paper reports a case in which the minimum postmortem interval (PMI) of two corpses, a man and a woman, and two dog carcasses at the same scene was estimated using forensic entomology. The corpses were found in various states of decay and had been colonized by different insect species. A total of eight taxa of immature insects were isolated from the four corpses and carcasses. The minimum PMIs were estimated to be about 8.75 days for the corpse of the woman, 4.17 days for that of the man, 3.13 days for the dog carcass found in the stairwell, and about 28.80 days for the dog carcass found in the toilet. These estimations were consistent with other evidence. Although the soft tissue loss observed on the man’s corpse was more severe than that of the woman’s corpse, the woman had died much earlier than the man. The discrepancy is thought to have been caused by dogs’ feeding activity. This case report provides a reference point and new perspectives for forensic entomology research on estimating the minimum PMIs of multiple human corpses and animal carcasses found in an indoor environment. Abstract In this paper, we report the estimation of the minimum PMIs of two human corpses and two dog carcasses using entomological evidence. Corpses of an elderly couple and carcasses of four dogs were found scattered on different floors in a house. The scene was very dirty. In addition, there were 12 emaciated live dogs at the scene. The corpses had been eaten by the dogs to different degrees, but the damage was greater on the man’s corpse. After forensic examination, it was concluded that both individuals died of natural causes. The minimum PMIs of the two individuals and the two dogs were estimated using entomological evidence. The minimum PMIs of the other two dogs were not estimated because of the risk of contamination with the human corpses. Different insect species were found on each of the corpses and carcasses. The minimum PMIs were estimated as about 8.75 days for the woman, 4.17 days for the man, 3.13 days for the dog found in the stairwell and about 28.80 days for the dog found in the toilet. These estimations coincided with the time the woman stopped communicating with her daughter and when the electricity consumption at the house decreased significantly.
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Limsopatham K, Tanajitaree C, Sanit S, Sukontason K, Somboon P, Amendt J, Feddern N, Sukontason KL. Wing morphometrics as a tool for the identification of forensic important Lucilia spp. (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Acta Trop 2022; 226:106242. [PMID: 34800378 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Blow flies of the genera Lucilia Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are considered forensically important species across several regions of the world. Due to the similarity of adults, especially females, the usual methods based on morphology or even molecular techniques can experience some limitations; therefore, alternative or supportive tools are required. Recently, the landmark-based geometric morphometric analysis has been applied to discriminate many insects on genus and species level. Herein, we focus on wing morphometric analysis as a tool in classifying five species of Lucilia; three species from Thailand - L. cuprina (Wiedemann, 1830), L. porphyrina (Walker, 1856) and L. sinensis Aubertin, 1933; and two species from Switzerland - L. caesar (Linnaeus, 1758) and L. illustris (Meigen, 1826). Canonical variate analysis of 233 right wings showed four overlapping clusters of L. cuprina, L. sinensis, L. caesar, and L. illustris with one distinct cluster of L. porphyrina. Eighty-eight to 100 percent of correct classification was achieved, with an UPGMA dendrogram analysis revealing clear-cut branch and sub-branch of five species determined. Results from this study suggested that wing morphometric analysis is a useful tool for the identification of adult Lucilia spp.
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Ivorra T, Martínez-Sánchez A, Rojo S. Review of Synthesiomyia nudiseta (Diptera: Muscidae) as a useful tool in forensic entomology. Int J Legal Med 2021; 135:2003-2015. [PMID: 33738569 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-021-02543-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Synthesiomyia nudiseta (van der Wulp, 1883) is a synanthropic muscid found in tropical and subtropical zones around the world. The larvae of this species are a secondary agent of myiasis with necrophagous habits and play an important role in forensic entomology, as they are used as an indicator of post-mortem interval. Adults can be considered vectors of etiological agents such as Escherichia coli and Shigella dysenteriae. Due to its ability to adapt to different environmental conditions, its high dispersal capacity (shown by its introduction to Europe), its predatory habits in the last larval stage and the difficulty of identifying it, a very important goal is to update our knowledge about this species. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to review the identification, geographical distribution and biology of this species in order to provide better support to investigations involving this fly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Ivorra
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Alicante, PO Box 99, E-03080, Alicante, Spain.
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh campus, Selangor, 47000, Sungai Buloh, Malaysia.
| | - Anabel Martínez-Sánchez
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Alicante, PO Box 99, E-03080, Alicante, Spain
| | - Santos Rojo
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources, University of Alicante, PO Box 99, E-03080, Alicante, Spain
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12
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Wang Y, Zhang Y, Wang M, Hu G, Fu Y, Zhi R, Wang J. Development of Hydrotaea spinigera (Diptera: Muscidae) at Constant Temperatures and Its Significance for Estimating Postmortem Interval. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:56-63. [PMID: 32860043 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Hydrotaea spinigera Stein is a necrophagous species, widely distributed in Oriental and Australasian regions. Considering that the postfeeding larvae or puparia of this species can still be found in abundance at the advanced decomposition stage or even the skeleton stage of remains, it can serve as a good supplementary indicator for estimating the minimum postmortem interval (PMImin). This could also extend the range of PMImin when the primary colonizers are no longer associated with the corpse or have emerged as adults. This study investigated the development duration, accumulated degree hours, and larval body length changes of H. spinigera at seven constant temperatures ranging from 16 to 34°C, and established three development models for estimating PMImin, including isomorphen diagram, isomegalen diagram, and thermal summation model. At 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, and 34°C, the development durations of H. spinigera from egg to adult stage were 1,412.6 ± 62.9, 867.4 ± 14.9, 657.1 ± 22.9, 532.3 ± 10.1, 418.8 ± 21.3, 379.8 ± 16.6, and 340.0 ± 20.3 h, respectively. The lower developmental threshold L0 was estimated as 10.50 ± 0.20°C, and the thermal summation constant K was 7,648.83 ± 146.74 degree hours. Using regression analysis, equations were obtained modeling the change of larval body length with time after hatching at different temperatures. This study provided basic data based on the growth and development of H. spinigera for the estimation of PMImin in forensic science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yingna Zhang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Anatomy, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Man Wang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Guoliang Hu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yangfan Fu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Rong Zhi
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jiangfeng Wang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
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13
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Heo CC, Rahimi R, Mengual X, M Isa MS, Zainal S, Khofar PN, Nazni WA. Eristalinus arvorum (Fabricius, 1787) (Diptera: Syrphidae) in Human Skull: A New Fly Species of Forensic Importance. J Forensic Sci 2019; 65:276-282. [PMID: 31305956 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.14128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A body of an unknown adult female was found within a shallow burial ground in Malaysia whereas the skull was exposed and visible on the ground. During autopsy examination, nine insect larvae were recovered from the interior of the human skull and subsequently preserved in 70% ethanol. The larvae were greyish in appearance, each with a posterior elongated breathing tube. A week after the autopsy, more larvae were collected at the burial site, and some of them were reared into adults. Adult specimens and larvae from the skull and from the burial site were sequenced to obtain DNA barcodes. Results showed all adult flies reared from the burial site, as well as the larvae collected from the skull were identified as Eristalinus arvorum (Fabricius, 1787) (Diptera: Syrphidae). Here, we report the colonization of E. arvorum larvae on a human corpse for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Chin Heo
- Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia.,Institute of Pathology, Laboratory & Forensic Medicine (I-PPerForM), Universiti Teknologi MARA, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Razuin Rahimi
- Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia.,Department of Forensic Medicine, Hospital Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Ximo Mengual
- Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Leibniz-Institut für Biodiversität der Tiere, Adenauerallee 160, D-53113, Bonn, Germany
| | - Mohd Shahirul M Isa
- Faculty of Applied Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Syameem Zainal
- Faculty of Applied Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Putri Nabihah Khofar
- Faculty of Applied Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Wasi Ahmad Nazni
- Division of Medical Entomology, Institute for Medical Research, Jalan Pahang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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14
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Haddadi R, Alajmi R, Abdel-Gaber R. A Comparative Study of Insect Succession on Rabbit Carrion in Three Different Microhabitats. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2019; 56:671-680. [PMID: 30649387 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjy235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Insect succession on three rabbit carcasses placed 110.49 cm above ground in winter in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia was examined in three different microhabitats: dry, semi-submerged, and submerged in tap water. The complete decomposition of the carcasses took 20 d and included five stages. In total 715 insects collected from carrion in different microhabitats were identified morphological, followed by the partial sequence confirmation of their 16S rRNA mitochondrial genes. Results showed that the insect species found and species richness differed among microhabitats. Carrion placed in the dry microhabitat showed the highest species richness and colonized by 400 insect specimens belonging to 16 species. Carrion placed in the semi-submerged microhabitat contained 271 insect specimens belonging to 12 species, showing a relatively low species richness. Lastly, the submerged microhabitat showed the lowest species richness, as the carrion placed in it attracted only 44 insects belonging to 9 species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rania Haddadi
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Reem Alajmi
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rewaida Abdel-Gaber
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
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15
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A bibliometric analysis of forensic entomology trends and perspectives worldwide over the last two decades (1998–2017). Forensic Sci Int 2019; 295:72-82. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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16
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Ren L, Chen W, Shang Y, Meng F, Zha L, Wang Y, Guo Y. The Application of COI Gene for Species Identification of Forensically Important Muscid Flies (Diptera: Muscidae). JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2018; 55:1150-1159. [PMID: 29788324 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjy076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Muscid Flies (Diptera: Muscidae) are of great forensic importance due to their wide distribution, ubiquitous and synanthropic nature. They are frequently neglected as they tend to arrive at the corpses later than the flesh flies and blow flies. Moreover, the lack of species-level identification also hinders investigation of medicolegal purposes. To overcome the difficulty of morphological identification, molecular method has gained relevance. Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene has been widely utilized. Nonetheless, to achieve correct identification of an unknown sample, it is important to survey certain muscid taxa from its geographic distribution range. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to contribute more geographically specific. We sequenced the COI gene of 51 muscid specimens of 12 species, and added all correct sequences available in GenBank to yield a total data set of 125 COI sequences from 33 muscid species to evaluate the COI gene as a molecular diagnostic tool. The interspecific distances were extremely high (4.7-19.8%) in either the standard barcoding fragment (658 bp) or the long COI sequence (1,019-1,535 bp), demonstrating that these two genetic markers were nearly identical in the species identification. However, the intraspecific distances of the long COI sequences were significantly higher than the barcoding region for the conspecific species that geographical locations vary greatly. Therefore, genetic diversity presented in this study provides a reference for species identification of muscid flies. Nevertheless, further investigation and data from more muscid species are required to enhance the efficacy of species-level identification using COI gene as a genetic marker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lipin Ren
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yanjie Shang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Fanming Meng
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Lagabaiyila Zha
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yadong Guo
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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17
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Klong-Klaew T, Ngoen-Klan R, Moophayak K, Sukontason K, Irvine KN, Tomberlin JK, Somboon P, Chareonviriyaphap T, Kurahashi H, Sukontason KL. Predicting Geographic Distribution of Forensically Significant Blow Flies of Subfamily Chrysomyinae (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in Northern Thailand. INSECTS 2018; 9:E106. [PMID: 30134628 PMCID: PMC6165117 DOI: 10.3390/insects9030106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Revised: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are carrion-breeding flies that are commonly used as evidence in forensic investigation. An adequate knowledge of ecological and geographical data of blow fly has a direct application in forensic science, as far as estimating time of colonization or corpse relocation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of four species of Chrysomyinae (Chrysomya pinguis, Chrysomya chani, Chrysomya villeneuvi, and Ceylonomyia nigripes) across six land use types in central Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. Eighteen study sites were selected for sampling across three districts of Chiang Mai province (Mueang Chiang Mai, Mae Rim, and Hang Dong). Adult flies were collected every two weeks using a funnel trap baited with 1-day tainted beef offal. The predicted geographic distributions of forensically important blow fly species were modeled using the computer program ArcGIS, based on selected climatic variables (temperature, relative humidity, and light intensity) recorded at study sites. During the study period, 1298 adult flies were collected, with peak fly occurrence during summer (April⁻May). Seasonal fluctuation patterns varied depending on fly species. Climatic factors displayed diverse impact on associated fly populations. Identified species were restricted mainly to mixed deciduous forests (MDF) especially in the mountainous area. None of these flies were trapped in an urban area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tunwadee Klong-Klaew
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
| | - Ratchadawan Ngoen-Klan
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
| | | | - Kom Sukontason
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
| | - Kim N Irvine
- National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore.
| | - Jeffery K Tomberlin
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, 2475 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
| | - Pradya Somboon
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
| | | | - Hiromu Kurahashi
- Department of Medical Entomology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan.
| | - Kabkaew L Sukontason
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
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18
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Sontigun N, Sukontason KL, Klong-klaew T, Sanit S, Samerjai C, Somboon P, Thanapornpoonpong SN, Amendt J, Sukontason K. Bionomics of the oriental latrine fly Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae): temporal fluctuation and reproductive potential. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:415. [PMID: 30005704 PMCID: PMC6044043 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2986-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chrysomya megacephala is a blow fly species of medical and forensic importance worldwide. Understanding its bionomics is essential for both designing effective fly control programs and its use in forensic investigations. METHODS The daily flight activity, seasonal abundance related to abiotic factors (temperature, relative humidity and rainfall) and reproductive potential of this species was investigated. Adult flies were sampled twice a month for one year from July 2013 to June 2014 in three different ecotypes (forest area, longan orchard and palm plantation) of Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand, using semi-automatic funnel traps. One-day tainted beef offal was used as bait. RESULTS A total of 88,273 flies were sampled, of which 82,800 flies (93.8%) were caught during the day (from 06:00 to 18:00 h); while 5473 flies (6.2%) were caught at night (from 18:00 to 06:00 h). Concurrently, the abundance of C. megacephala was higher in the forest area (n = 31,873; 36.1%) and palm plantation (n = 31,347; 35.5%), compared to the longan orchard (n = 25,053; 28.4%). The number of females was significantly higher than that of males, exhibiting a female to male sex ratio of 2.36:1. Seasonal fluctuation revealed the highest abundance of C. megacephala in summer, but low numbers in the rainy season and winter. Fly density was significantly positively correlated with temperature, but negatively correlated with relative humidity. No correlation between numbers of C. megacephala with rainfall was found. Activity occurred throughout the daytime with high numbers from 06:00 to 18:00 h in summer and 12:00 to 18:00 h in the rainy season and winter. As for the nocturnal flight activity, a small number of flies were collected in summer and the rainy season, while none were collected in the winter. Dissection of the females indicated that fecundity was highest during the rainy season, followed by winter and summer. CONCLUSIONS Since the assessment of daily, seasonal activity and the reproductive potential of C. megacephala remains a crucial point to be elucidated, this extensive study offers insights into bionomics, which may be considered for integrated fly control strategies and forensic entomology issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narin Sontigun
- Graduate School, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200 Thailand
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200 Thailand
| | - Kabkaew L. Sukontason
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200 Thailand
| | - Tunwadee Klong-klaew
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200 Thailand
| | - Sangob Sanit
- Graduate School, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200 Thailand
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200 Thailand
| | - Chutharat Samerjai
- Graduate School, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200 Thailand
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200 Thailand
| | - Pradya Somboon
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200 Thailand
| | - Sa-nguansak Thanapornpoonpong
- Department of Plant Science and Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200 Thailand
| | - Jens Amendt
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Kennedyallee 104, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Kom Sukontason
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200 Thailand
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19
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Ren L, Shang Y, Chen W, Meng F, Cai J, Zhu G, Chen L, Wang Y, Deng J, Guo Y. A brief review of forensically important flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae). Forensic Sci Res 2018; 3:16-26. [PMID: 30483648 PMCID: PMC6197121 DOI: 10.1080/20961790.2018.1432099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 01/21/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Forensic entomology could provide valuable data for the minimum postmortem interval (PMImin) estimation and other relevant information, such as causes and circumstances of death. Some representatives of flesh flies are one of the dominant necrophagous insects during early stages of decomposition, demonstrating unique biological characteristics compared with other necrophagous flies. Moreover, they lead to global health concerns as carriers of various pathogenic micro-organisms, and dominantly result in the traumatic myiasis. Thus, sarcophagid flies are considered important in decomposition processes for PMImin estimation. However, the utility of sarcophagid flies has been seriously hampered by limited ecological, biological and taxonomic knowledge of them. The aim of this paper is to provide a brief review on the species, distribution and biological habit of forensically important sarcophagid flies. In addition, the relation between traumatic myiasis and flesh flies, molecular identification methods and developmental pattern of flesh flies are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lipin Ren
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yanjie Shang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Fanming Meng
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jifeng Cai
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Guanghui Zhu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Lushi Chen
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Guizhou Police Officer Vocational College, Guiyang, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jianqiang Deng
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Yadong Guo
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
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20
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Sanit S, Sukontason K, Kurahashi H, Tomberlin JK, Wannasan A, Kraisittipanit R, Sukontason KL. Morphology of immature stages of blow fly, Lucilia sinensis Aubertin (Diptera: Calliphoridae), a potential species of forensic importance. Acta Trop 2017; 176:395-401. [PMID: 28939496 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 09/16/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Lucilia sinensis Aubertin (Diptera: Calliphoridae) is a blow fly species of potential forensic importance since adults are attracted to, and colonize, decomposing vertebrate remains. Blow fly larvae associated with human corpses can be useful evidence in forensic investigations; however, their use is dependent in most cases on proper species identification and availability of developmental data. For identification, morphological information on each life stage is traditionally used. We used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to examine the ultrastructure of eggs, all instars, and puparia, of L. sinensis. The important characteristics used to differentiate L. sinensis from other species are provided. Distinctive features of the eggs are the slight widening median area extending almost the entire length. The last abdominal segment of the first instar bears elongated outer ventral tubercles along the rim of the last abdominal segment. These tubercles, as well as the well developed median and outer dorsal tubercles, are more prominent in the second and third instars. The surface integument of the tubercles is equipped with circular rows of microtrichia. Pairs of inner dorsal tubercle are absent. Each anterior spiracle is comprised of 9-12 papillae arrange in a single row in the second and third instars. As for the third instar, the dorsal spines between the first and second thoracic segments are delicate, narrow, small, and close together (as row or set). The peristigmatic tufts adjacent to the posterior spiracle of the third instar are moderately branches of short, fine hairs, but minute in puparia. In conclusion, the prominent outer ventral tubercle in all instars and puparia is a new diagnostic feature of L. sinensis and helpful in differentiating it from other Lucilia species that are forensically important. The description of immature L. sinensis in this study will be useful for forensic entomologists in countries where this species exists.
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Charabidze D, Gosselin M, Hedouin V. Use of necrophagous insects as evidence of cadaver relocation: myth or reality? PeerJ 2017; 5:e3506. [PMID: 28785513 PMCID: PMC5543926 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of insects as indicators of post-mortem displacement is discussed in many texts, courses and TV shows, and several studies addressing this issue have been published. Although the concept is widely cited, it is poorly understood, and only a few forensic cases have successfully applied such a method. The use of necrophagous insects as evidence of cadaver relocation actually involves a wide range of biological aspects. Distribution, microhabitat, phenology, behavioral ecology, and molecular analysis are among the research areas associated with this topic. This article provides the first review of the current knowledge and addresses the potential and limitations of different methods to evaluate their applicability. This work reveals numerous weaknesses and erroneous beliefs as well as many possibilities and research opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien Charabidze
- CHU Lille, EA 7367 UTML - Unite de Taphonomie Medico-Legale, Univ Lille, Lille, France
| | - Matthias Gosselin
- Research Institute of Biosciences, Laboratory of Zoology, UMONS - Université de Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Valéry Hedouin
- CHU Lille, EA 7367 UTML - Unite de Taphonomie Medico-Legale, Univ Lille, Lille, France
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