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Watherston J, McNevin D. Skull and long bones – Forensic DNA techniques for historic shipwreck human remains. AUST J FORENSIC SCI 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/00450618.2023.2181395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- J. Watherston
- Centre for Forensic Science, School of Mathematical & Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
- Biology Unit, Forensic Science Branch, Nt Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Berrimah, NT, Australia
- College of Health & Human Sciences, Faculty of Science, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, NT, Australia
| | - D. McNevin
- Centre for Forensic Science, School of Mathematical & Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
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Martlin BA, Anderson GS, Bell LS. A review of human decomposition in marine environments. CANADIAN SOCIETY OF FORENSIC SCIENCE JOURNAL 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/00085030.2022.2135741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Britny A. Martlin
- Centre for Forensic Research, School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Gail S. Anderson
- Centre for Forensic Research, School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Lynne S. Bell
- Centre for Forensic Research, School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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3
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Dmitrijs F, Guo J, Huang Y, Liu Y, Fang X, Jiang K, Zha L, Cai J, Fu X. Bacterial Succession in Microbial Biofilm as a Potential Indicator for Postmortem Submersion Interval Estimation. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:951707. [PMID: 35942315 PMCID: PMC9356301 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.951707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria acts as the main decomposer during the process of biodegradation by microbial communities in the ecosystem. Numerous studies have revealed the bacterial succession patterns during carcass decomposition in the terrestrial setting. The machine learning algorithm-generated models based on such temporal succession patterns have been developed for the postmortem interval (PMI) estimation. However, the bacterial succession that occurs on decomposing carcasses in the aquatic environment is poorly understood. In the forensic practice, the postmortem submersion interval (PMSI), which approximately equals to the PMI in most of the common drowning cases, has long been problematic to determine. In the present study, bacterial successions in the epinecrotic biofilm samples collected from the decomposing swine cadavers submerged in water were analyzed by sequencing the variable region 4 (V4) of 16S rDNA. The succession patterns between the repeated experimental settings were repeatable. Using the machine learning algorithm for establishing random forest (RF) models, the microbial community succession patterns in the epinecrotic biofilm samples taken during the 56-day winter trial and 21-day summer trial were determined to be used as the PMSI predictors with the mean absolute error (MAE) of 17.87 ± 2.48 ADD (≈1.3 day) and 20.59 ± 4.89 ADD (≈0.7 day), respectively. Significant differences were observed between the seasons and between the substrates. The data presented in this research suggested that the influences of the environmental factors and the aquatic bacterioplankton on succession patterns of the biofilm bacteria were of great significance. The related mechanisms of such influence need to be further studied and clarified in depth to consider epinecrotic biofilm as a reliable predictor in the forensic investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Finkelbergs Dmitrijs
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Juanjuan Guo
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yecao Huang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yafei Liu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xinyue Fang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Kankan Jiang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lagabaiyila Zha
- 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
- Jifeng Cai
| | - Xiaoliang Fu
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaoliang Fu
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4
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Teo CH, Hing HL, Hamzah NH, Hamzah SPAA. The Effect of Different Coverings on Total Body Score Development of Buried Carcasses. Malays J Med Sci 2021; 28:103-112. [PMID: 34512135 PMCID: PMC8407801 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2021.28.4.11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Examination of post-mortem changes is one of the ways to assess decomposition process on buried bodies. Nonetheless, studies on such assessment are still lacking, especially on the effects of body coverings by different materials in burial conditions. The aim of this research is to study the effect of different types of covering towards decomposition on buried rabbit carcasses by using Total Body Score (TBS) system. Methods Twenty-seven rabbit carcasses were divided into: (i) No Clothing; (ii) Thick Clothing and (iii) Plastic Wrapping groups, and buried into individual shallow graves. One subject was exhumed from first to ninth post-burial week and assessed by using TBS system. Results and Discussion There are significant differences among TBS between different coverings while controlling the time factor, F (2, 23) = 4.80, P < 0.05, partial η2 = 0.294. TBS score for Plastic Wrapping group is significantly lower than No Clothing group over times at α = 0.05, P < 0.05. The slightly delaying effect of thick clothing is caused by design of jacket, which allows arthropods access and microbial activity. Relatively strong delaying effect by plastic covering could be caused by impermeable property that caused accumulation of decompositional products and slow down the degradation. Conclusion In conclusion, TBS system is a potential tool in describing rate of decomposition for buried cases in Malaysia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chee Hau Teo
- Centre of Diagnostic, Therapeutic and Investigative Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.,Forensic Science Analysis Centre, Department of Chemistry Malaysia, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hiang Lian Hing
- Centre of Diagnostic, Therapeutic and Investigative Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Noor Hazfalinda Hamzah
- Centre of Diagnostic, Therapeutic and Investigative Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Sri Pawita Albakri Amir Hamzah
- Centre of Diagnostic, Therapeutic and Investigative Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
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Alfsdotter C, Petaros A. Outdoor human decomposition in Sweden: A retrospective quantitative study of forensic-taphonomic changes and postmortem interval in terrestrial and aquatic settings. J Forensic Sci 2021; 66:1348-1363. [PMID: 33951184 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.14719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This paper presents a quantitative retrospective study of gross human decomposition in central and southeastern Sweden. The applicability of methods developed abroad for postmortem interval (PMI) estimation from decomposition morphology and temperature are is evaluated. Ninety-four cases were analyzed (43 terrestrial and 51 aquatic) with a median PMI of 48 days. The results revealed differences in decomposition patterns between aquatic, surface, hanging, and buried remains. While partial saponification and desiccation occurred in cases of surface remains, complete skeletonization was observed in all cases with a PMI over two years. Aquatic skeletonization was slower due to extensive saponification in cases with PMI higher than one year. Formulae for assessing accumulated degree-days (ADD) from the original methods did not fit the study material. However, a regression analysis demonstrated that 80% of decomposition variance in surface remains could be explained by ADD, suggesting that a geographically adapted equation holds promise for assessing PMI. In contrast, the model fit was poor for aquatic cases (43%). While this may be explained by problems in obtaining reliant aquatic temperature data or an insufficient scoring system, aquatic decomposition may be highly dependent on factors other than ADD alone. This study evaluates the applicability of current PMI methods on an outdoor sample from a previously unpublished region, and represents the first scientific publication of human outdoor decomposition patterns in Sweden. Suggestions for future research are provided, including that scoring methods should incorporate saponification to fit forensic taphonomy in Swedish environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Alfsdotter
- Faculty of Art and Humanities, School of Cultural Studies, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Anja Petaros
- Division of Forensic Medicine in Linköping, National Board of Forensic Medicine, Linköping, Sweden
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6
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A practical review of adipocere: Key findings, case studies and operational considerations from crime scene to autopsy. J Forensic Leg Med 2020; 78:102109. [PMID: 33596512 DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2020.102109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
After death, the body begins decomposition, a process that starts with the breakdown of organic matter and typically leads to the complete degradation of a body. Such a process is highly affected by (micro and macro) environmental factors of intrinsic and extrinsic nature. Adipocere is a substance formed from the decomposition of adipose tissue and represents a disruption to the typical decomposition process. Such disruption causes decomposition to slow or arrest completely, placing a body into a state of preservation, and determines complications in the estimation of the time since death (Post-Mortem Interval, PMI). While several studies have been performed on the nature, the formation and the degradation of adipocere, there is still no reliable model to assess the PMI of a body exhibiting it. Case studies are an important source to aid pathologists and investigators during a case. This review presents a summary and an update on the knowledge surrounding the chemistry and the factors affecting adipocere formation and degradation, the timing and the distribution of adipocere throughout a body, and the techniques used to investigate it. Furthermore, a table of the most important case studies involving adipocere since 1950, several images and descriptions of recent cases and operational considerations for the best practice at the crime scene and autopsy are presented to be used as a reference to facilitate forensic professionals in adipocere cases.
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7
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Palmer C. Estimating the Impact of Laminar Flow on the Pattern and Rate of Decomposition in Aquatic Environments-Is There a Better Way of Modeling Decomposition? J Forensic Sci 2020; 65:1601-1609. [PMID: 32347978 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.14441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Determining the Postmortem Submersion Interval (PMSI) is challenging for forensic anthropologists due to the variability of decomposition in aquatic environments. One possible cause of this variability that has received little attention in the literature is the impact of laminar flow. In order to determine whether flow affects the pattern or rate of decomposition, this study analyzed six rabbit carcasses submerged in two different sites: one with slow, laminar flow ("River Site") and one without flow ("Canal Site"). A pulley system was designed in order to periodically bring the carcasses out of the water for sampling, with the pattern of decomposition monitored using visual descriptions of the decomposition process and the rate monitored using the Heaton et al. 2010 method of scoring aquatic decomposition in conjunction with accumulated degree days (ADD). The rate of decomposition was found to be significantly different between the two sites (F(1, 126) = 89.569, p < 0.01). In addition, decomposition was observed to occur in four distinct stages, which were modeled as a series of curves, and a Staged Decomposition Model was created as the possible basis for an improved predictor of PMSI versus the current loglinear approach. While the traditional loglinear approach appears to give a good approximation to the Staged Decomposition Models in environments with laminar flow, this research suggests that it may be less accurate for nonflowing sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christy Palmer
- Somerswey Cottage, Somerswey, Guildford, Surrey, GU4 8EQ, U.K
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Mizukami H, Hathway B, Procopio N. Aquatic Decomposition of Mammalian Corpses: A Forensic Proteomic Approach. J Proteome Res 2020; 19:2122-2135. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.0c00060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Haruka Mizukami
- The Forensic Science Unit, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Ellison Building, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, U.K
| | - Bella Hathway
- The Forensic Science Unit, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Ellison Building, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, U.K
| | - Noemi Procopio
- The Forensic Science Unit, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Ellison Building, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, U.K
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9
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Ishikawa N, Miake Y, Kitamura K, Yamamoto H. A new method for estimating time since death by analysis of substances deposited on the surface of dental enamel in a body immersed in seawater. Int J Legal Med 2019; 133:1421-1427. [PMID: 30770987 PMCID: PMC6706365 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-019-02020-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The present investigation was performed with the objective of developing a method to estimate how long a corpse had been immersed in water after death (the time since death). Accurate determination of the time elapsed since death may lead to identification of the place of drowning, and therefore, serves not only as a piece of information useful for determination of the cause of death but also leads to prompt identification of the body. The results showed that diatoms attached to the surface of dental enamel increased with prolongation of immersion time in water. Further, as the immersion time increased, the quantity of O, Si, Mg, K, Al, and S detected on the surface of dental enamel increased, while the quantity of the main dental components (Ca and P) that were detected gradually decreased. Based on these results, we calculated a regression formula to estimate the immersion time. Our method is considered to be a breakthrough technique for evaluating the time since death more objectively, compared to the conventional method of determination based on the degree of decomposition of the corpse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noboru Ishikawa
- Department of Histology and Developmental Biology, Tokyo Dental College, 2-9-18 Kanda-Misakicho, Chiyoda, Tokyo, 101-0061, Japan. .,Department of Forensic Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan.
| | - Yasuo Miake
- Department of Histology and Developmental Biology, Tokyo Dental College, 2-9-18 Kanda-Misakicho, Chiyoda, Tokyo, 101-0061, Japan
| | - Kei Kitamura
- Department of Histology and Developmental Biology, Tokyo Dental College, 2-9-18 Kanda-Misakicho, Chiyoda, Tokyo, 101-0061, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Yamamoto
- Department of Histology and Developmental Biology, Tokyo Dental College, 2-9-18 Kanda-Misakicho, Chiyoda, Tokyo, 101-0061, Japan
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Dautartas A, Kenyhercz MW, Vidoli GM, Meadows Jantz L, Mundorff A, Steadman DW. Differential Decomposition Among Pig, Rabbit, and Human Remains. J Forensic Sci 2018; 63:1673-1683. [PMID: 29603225 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.13784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2017] [Revised: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
While nonhuman animal remains are often utilized in forensic research to develop methods to estimate the postmortem interval, systematic studies that directly validate animals as proxies for human decomposition are lacking. The current project compared decomposition rates among pigs, rabbits, and humans at the University of Tennessee's Anthropology Research Facility across three seasonal trials that spanned nearly 2 years. The Total Body Score (TBS) method was applied to quantify decomposition changes and calculate the postmortem interval (PMI) in accumulated degree days (ADD). Decomposition trajectories were analyzed by comparing the estimated and actual ADD for each seasonal trial and by fuzzy cluster analysis. The cluster analysis demonstrated that the rabbits formed one group while pigs and humans, although more similar to each other than either to rabbits, still showed important differences in decomposition patterns. The decomposition trends show that neither nonhuman model captured the pattern, rate, and variability of human decomposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Dautartas
- Department of Anthropology, University of Tennessee, 502 Strong Hall, 1621 Cumberland Ave., Knoxville, TN, 37996
| | - Michael W Kenyhercz
- Central Identification Laboratory, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, 570 Moffet Street, JBPHH, HI, 96853.,Department of Anatomy, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x323, Arcadia, 0007, South Africa
| | - Giovanna M Vidoli
- Department of Anthropology, University of Tennessee, 502 Strong Hall, 1621 Cumberland Ave., Knoxville, TN, 37996
| | - Lee Meadows Jantz
- Department of Anthropology, University of Tennessee, 502 Strong Hall, 1621 Cumberland Ave., Knoxville, TN, 37996
| | - Amy Mundorff
- Department of Anthropology, University of Tennessee, 502 Strong Hall, 1621 Cumberland Ave., Knoxville, TN, 37996
| | - Dawnie Wolfe Steadman
- Department of Anthropology, University of Tennessee, 502 Strong Hall, 1621 Cumberland Ave., Knoxville, TN, 37996
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11
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Cockle DL, Bell LS. The environmental variables that impact human decomposition in terrestrially exposed contexts within Canada. Sci Justice 2017; 57:107-117. [DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2016.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2016] [Revised: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 11/04/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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12
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Plastic waste sacks alter the rate of decomposition of dismembered bodies within. Int J Legal Med 2017; 131:1141-1147. [PMID: 28116498 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-017-1535-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2016] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
As a result of criminal activity, human bodies are sometimes dismembered and concealed within sealed, plastic waste sacks. Consequently, due to the inhibited ingress of insects and dismemberment, the rate of decomposition of the body parts within may be different to that of whole, exposed bodies. Correspondingly, once found, an estimation of the postmortem interval may be affected and lead to erroneous inferences. This study set out to determine whether insects were excluded and how rate of decomposition was affected inside such plastic sacks. The limbs, torsos and heads of 24 dismembered pigs were sealed using nylon cable ties within plastic garbage sacks, half of which were of a type claimed to repel insects. Using a body scoring scale to quantify decomposition, the body parts in the sacks were compared to those of ten exposed, whole pig carcasses. Insects were found to have entered both types of plastic sack. There was no difference in rate of decomposition in the two types of sack (F 1,65 = 1.78, p = 0.19), but this was considerably slower than those of whole carcasses (F 1,408 = 1453, p < 0.001), with heads showing the largest differences. As well as a slower decomposition, sacks resulted in formation of some adipocere tissue as a result of high humidity within. Based upon existing methods, postmortem intervals for body parts within sealed sacks would be significantly underestimated.
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Abstract
Investigation of animal-related crime, and therefore submission of forensic cases to veterinary pathology facilities, is increasing, yet many veterinary pathologists are unfamiliar and often uncomfortable with involvement in the forensic necropsy. This article discusses various aspects of the forensic necropsy without specific attention to any particular species group or crime. General advice is given on procedures, documentation, and recording of the examination, and the article indicates how these features may differ from those used in investigation of natural disease. It also discusses evidence management, including recordkeeping, identification of evidence, labeling of photographs, and use of standard operating procedures and protocols. Various written and visual methods for documentation of the forensic necropsy are covered, and adjunctive topics such as sample collection, assessment, and description of wounds and taphonomy are included. Cause, mechanism, and manner of death are defined, and guidance to the use of these terms is given. The aim of this article is to offer guidance on procedural aspects of the forensic necropsy that will help those developing their forensic services, contribute to standardization of the provision of forensic veterinary pathology, and build the confidence of the "uncomfortable" forensic veterinary pathologist.
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Affiliation(s)
- H W Brooks Brownlie
- School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - R Munro
- Royal Veterinary College, London and Royal School of Veterinary Studies, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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14
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Coelho L, Cardoso HFV. Timing of blunt force injuries in long bones: the effects of the environment, PMI length and human surrogate model. Forensic Sci Int 2013; 233:230-7. [PMID: 24314524 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2013.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2012] [Revised: 04/06/2013] [Accepted: 09/16/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Timing of blunt force trauma in human bone is a critical forensic issue, but there is limited knowledge on how different environmental conditions, the duration of postmortem interval (PMI), different bone types and different animal models influence fracture morphology. This study aims at evaluating the influence of the type of postmortem environment and the duration of the postmortem period on fracture morphology, for distinguishing perimortem from postmortem fractures on different types of long bones from different species. Fresh limb segments from pig and goat were sequentially left to decompose, under 3 different environmental circumstances (surface, buried and submerged), resulting in sets with different PMI lengths (0, 28, 56, 84, 112, 140, 168 and 196 days), which were then fractured. Fractured bones (total=325; pig tibia=110; pig fibula=110; goat metatarsals=105) were classified according to the Fracture Freshness Index (FFI). Climatic data for the experiment location was collected. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, correlation analysis between FFI and PMI, Mann-Whitney U tests comparing FFI medians for different PMI's and linear regression analysis using PMI, pluviosity and temperature as predictors for FFI. Surface samples presented increases in FFI with increasing PMI, with positive correlations for all bone types. The same results were observed in submerged samples, except for pig tibia. Median FFI values for surface samples could distinguish bones with PMI=0 days from PMI≥56 days. Buried samples presented no significant correlation between FFI and PMI, and nonsignificant regression models. Regression analysis of surface and submerged samples suggested differences in FFI variation with PMI between bone types, although without statistical significance. Adding climatic data to surface regression models resulted in PMI no longer predicting FFI. When comparing different animal models, linear regressions suggested greater increases in FFI with increasing PMI in pig, compared to goat, in both surface and submerged environments, although statistically not significant. No differences were found between environments except for buried vs. submerged goat samples and surface vs. buried/submerged tibia pig samples. FFI showed a weak association with PMI and it seems to be affected by various factors, such as different bone types, decomposition environments and climatic factors. Nonetheless, the FFI shows promising discriminating power during the early postmortem period. The apparent variation between bone types from different species suggests that extrapolations to humans can be challenging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís Coelho
- Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal e Ciências Forenses, I.P. - Delegação do Norte, Portugal.
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Ueland M, Breton HA, Forbes SL. Bacterial populations associated with early-stage adipocere formation in lacustrine waters. Int J Legal Med 2013; 128:379-87. [DOI: 10.1007/s00414-013-0907-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2013] [Accepted: 08/13/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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16
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Delabarde T, Keyser C, Tracqui A, Charabidze D, Ludes B. The potential of forensic analysis on human bones found in riverine environment. Forensic Sci Int 2013; 228:e1-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2013.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2012] [Revised: 01/23/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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