Sains Malaysiana 53(6)(2024): 1255-1267

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2024-5306-03

Post Mortem Interval Calculation of Oryctolagus cuniculus through Forensic Entomofauna – A Tool for Resolving Medicolegal Issues in Crime Scenes

(PengiraanSela Masa Pascakematian Oryctolagus cuniculus melalui Entomofauna Forensik – Suatu Alat untuk Menyelesaikan IsuMedikolegal di Tempat Kejadian Jenayah)

MOHAMMAD ATTAULLAH^1,*, FAHIM ULLAH¹, IMRAN KHAN¹, IKRAM ILAHI¹, MUHAMMAD ZAHOOR², MUHAMMAD AMIN³, RIAZ ULLAH⁴, ESSAM A. ALI⁵, ARIF JAN⁶ & SIDRA BIBI¹

¹Department of Zoology, University of Malakand, Chakdara, Lower Dir, Pakistan

²Department of Biochemistry, University of Malakand, Chakdara, Lower Dir, Pakistan

³Department of Zoology, University of Karachi-75270, Karachi, Pakistan

⁴Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

⁵Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy King Saud University Riyadh Saudi Arabia

⁶Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Nash Hall 104, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA

Received: 20 August 2023/Accepted: 10 May 2024

Abstract

Post mortem interval (PMI) is an essential tool in crime scene investigations and is pivotal for resolving medicolegal issues. Developmental rates of insects can be utilized for the calculation of PMI of known and unknown animal and human cadavers. In the present study, PMI for rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linnaeus 1758) was calculated through insect developmental rates and insect successional patterns on decomposing carcass of O. cuniculus. A total of 8 species of insects belonging to three orders and 8 families were identified on the O. cuniculus carcass. The blow fly, Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann 1819) belonging to the family Calliphoridae was the common and first visitor species to the rabbit carcass. The developmental rate of C. albiceps associated with the ambient climatic conditions was used as a model for the calculation of PMI. Temperature correction factor of the carcass temperature versus met station temperature was found as y = 0.9185x + 3.3624; R² = 0.8343. The accumulated degree days (∑ADD) were found as 535 while the accumulated degree hours (ADH) were found as 12842 with a resultant PMI of 7 days (ADD) and 167.4 h (ADH). Five decomposition stages of O. cuniculus were identified as fresh, bloated, active decay, advanced decay and dry remains stage. Findings of the present study can be applied for the calculation of PMI of known and unknown animal and human cadavers for resolving medicolegal issues in crime scenes.

Keywords: Calliphoridae; carcass; Chrysomya albiceps; degree days; forensic science

Abstrak

Sela masa pascakematian (PMI) sangat penting dalam penyiasatan tempat kejadian jenayah dan penting untuk menyelesaikan isu medikolegal. Kadar perkembangan serangga boleh digunakan untuk pengiraan PMI haiwan dan mayat manusia yang diketahui dan tidak diketahui. Dalam kajian ini, PMI untuk arnab, Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linnaeus 1758) telah dihitung melalui kadar perkembangan serangga dan corak berturutan serangga pada bangkai O. cuniculus yang mereput. Sebanyak 8 spesies serangga yang terdiri daripada tiga order dan 8 famili telah dikenal pasti terdapat pada bangkai O. cuniculus. Langau hijau, Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann 1819) daripada famili Calliphoridae adalah spesies pelawat biasa dan pertama kepada bangkai arnab. Kadar perkembangan C. albiceps yang dikaitkan dengan keadaan iklim ambien digunakan sebagai model untuk pengiraan PMI. Faktor pembetulan suhu karkas berbanding suhu stesen dipenuhi didapati sebagai y = 0.9185x + 3.3624; R² = 0.8343. Hari darjah terkumpul (∑ADD) didapati sebagai 535 manakala jam darjah terkumpul (ADH) didapati sebagai 12842 dengan PMI terhasil 7 hari (ADD) dan 167.4 jam (ADH). Lima peringkat penguraian O. cuniculus dikenal pasti sebagai peringkat segar, kembung, pereputan aktif, pereputan lanjutan dan peringkat sisa kering. Penemuan kajian ini boleh digunakan untuk pengiraan PMI haiwan dan mayat manusia yang diketahui dan tidak diketahui untuk menyelesaikan isu medikolegal di tempat kejadian.

Kata kunci: Bangkai; Calliphoridae; Chrysomya albiceps; hari darjah; sains forensik

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*Corresponding author; email: m.attaullah@uom.edu.pk