Estimation of postmortem interval using the blowfly Phaenicia (Lucilia) sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria

Authors

  • Ado-Baba Ahmed Department of Biological Sciences, Kaduna State University
  • Samson G. Joseph Department of Biological Sciences, Kaduna State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20162304

Keywords:

Phaenicia sericata, Period of insect activity, Post mortem interval, Kaduna, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The period of insect activity (PIA) was experimentally estimated for a carcass of Cavia porcellus (guinea pig) using the blowfly Phaenicia sericata in Kaduna, northern Nigeria.

Methods: Cavia porcellus (guinea pig) was killed and the carcass placed inside in a wire cage measuring 81x53x45 cm to prevent larger animals and birds from scavenging and allowed to decompose under ambient conditions and an average of 12hour light and darkness.

Results: Six second-instar larvae of blowflies were collected from the decomposing carcass from which four adult flies emerged and identified (two each of P.  sericata and P. infernalis). Using P. sericata, the period of insect activity (PIA) was estimated as the difference between the total development time of the species and the time it required to become adult in the laboratory. The estimated minimum post mortem interval was 13.8 days with the probable day of oviposition between 9th and 10th January, 2016, coinciding with the actual period the animal was killed

Conclusions: Estimated time between death and discovery of corpse (PMI) based on the period of insect activity (PIA) may be a better alternative in some situations because it eliminate taking multiple temperature measurements at the crime scene, at the carcass as well in the maggot masses on the cadaver.

 

References

Dalal JS, Tejpa HR, Chanana A, Kaur N. Medicolegal Study of Rigor Mortis to Estimate Postmortem Interval. JIAFM. 2006:28(2). ISSN:0971-0973

Oliveira-Costa J. Entomologia forense: Quando os insetos são vestígios. Ed. Millennium, Campinas, 2003;257.

Bornemissza GF. An analysis of arthropod sucession in carrion and the effect of its decomposition on the soil fauna. Austr J Zool. 1957,5:1-12.

Arnaldos I, Romera E, García MD, Luna A. An initial study on the succession of Sarcosaprophagous Diptera (Insecta) on carrion in the southeastern Iberian Peninsula. International Journal of Legal Medicine. 2001;114:156-62.

Carvalho LML, Linhares AX. Seasonality of insect successions and pig carcass decomposition on a natural forest area in Southeastern Brazil. J Forensic Sci 2001;46:604-8.

Grassberger M, Frank C. Initial study of arthropod succession on pig carrion in a central European urban habitat. J. Med. Entomol. 2004;41:511-23.

Tabor KL, Brewster CC, Fell RD. Analysis of the Successional Patterns of Insects on Carrion in Southwest Virginia. J. Med. Entomol. 2004;41(4):785-95.

Wall R, Warnes ML. Responses of the sheep blowfly Lucilia sericata to carrion odour and carbon dioxide. Entomol. Exp. Appl. 1994;73:239-46.

Anderson GS. Succession on carrion and its relationship to determining time of death, 143-75. In J.H. Byrd and J.L. Castner (eds.), Forensic entomology: The utility of arthropods in legal investigations. CRC, Boca Raton. 2001;418.

Ekrakene T, Iloba BN. One Death, Many Insects’ Species Yet One Insect’s Generation. Journal of Entomology, 2011;8:27-39.

Hamza SA. Synanthropic flies as mechanical carriers of human intestinal parasites in Lagos Nigeria . Unpublished thesis. 2012.

Aigbodion FI, Egbon IN, Obuseli AJ. Pathogens of Medical Importance Isolated from Phaenicia (Lucilia) sericata (Diptera:Calliphoridae) in Benin City, Nigeria. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 2013;16:1791-5.

Ndueze OU, Noutcha MAE, Umeozor OC, and Okiwelu S.N. Arthropods associated with wildlife carcasses in Lowland Rainforest, Rivers State, Nigeria. European Journal of Experimental Biology, 2013;3(5):111-4.

Smith KGV. A manual of forensic entomology. The Trustees, British Museum London. 1986.

Hall MJR, Wall R. Myasis in humans and domestic animals. Adv Parasitol. 1995;35:258-334.

Grassberger M, Friedrich E, Reiter C. The blowfly Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) as a new forensic indicator in Central Europe. Int J Legal Med. 2003;117:75-81.

Zumpt F. Myiasis in Man and Animals in the Old World: A Textbook for Physicians Veterinarians and Zoologists. Butterworth, London. 1965.

Catts E P, Haskell NH. Entomology and death: a procedural guide. Clemson, Joyce’s Print Shop, 182;1990.

Anderson GS. Minimum and maximum development rates of some forensically important Calliphoridae (Diptera). J Forensic Sci. 2000;45:824-32.

Amendt J, Campobasso CP, Gaudry E, Reiter C, LeBlanc HN, Hall MJR. Best practice in forensic entomology– standards and guidelines. International Journal of Legal Medicine. 2007;121:90-104.

Kosmann C, Macedo CP, Barbosa TAF, Pujol-Luz JR. Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) and Hemilucilia segmentaria (Fabricius) (Diptera, Calliphoridae) used to estimate the postmortem interval in a forensic case in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Entomologia. 2011;55(4):621-3.

Marchenko MI. Medico-legal relevance of cadaver entomofauna for the determination of the time since death. Acta Med Leg Soc, 1988. 38:257-302.

Greenberg B, Kunich JC. Entomology and the Law: flies as forensic indicators. Cambridge, University Press, xiii+. 2002;306.

Gomes L, von Zuben CJ. Forensic Entomology and Main Challenges in Brazil. Neotropical Entomology, 2006;35(1):1-11.

Downloads

Published

2017-01-04

How to Cite

Ahmed, A.-B., & Joseph, S. G. (2017). Estimation of postmortem interval using the blowfly Phaenicia (Lucilia) sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 4(8), 3417–3420. https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20162304

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles