ABSTRACT
@#Beetles (Coleoptera) are known to constitute forensic evidence in medico-legal investigations as their presence can be used to date human remains in almost all decomposition stages. Many forensic studies focus on the successional colonization pattern of flies (Diptera); however, beetles have not so far been studied extensively for this aspect. A beetle of the genus Afromorgus Scholtz, 1986, A. chinensis (Boheman, 1858) (Scarabaeoidea: Trogidae), was found beneath a late decaying rabbit carcass at Paya Indah Wetland, Dengkil, Malaysia, for the first time. Both genus and species are already known to occur in Malaysia from literature.
ABSTRACT
@#The estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI) is an essential information in death investigations. It is necessary to know the developmental data of the most important necrophagous insect species in every geographical area. Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) is one of the most common species associated with human body decomposition, especially in the tropics, so a precise knowledge of its life cycle is crucial. However, despite its ubiquity, developmental data in a range of tropical temperatures is scarce. For this reason, the aim of this study is to provide the developmental data of the blowfly, C. megacephala, in a range of tropical temperatures and to apply these data in forensic entomology. Four temperatures were examined (i.e., 27.0°C 29.5°C, 32.0°C and 34.5°C) and the time of developments from egg to adult were recorded. To build the growth curves, five larvae per day were measured with a digital caliper. Accumulated degree-days were calculated and the isomorphen diagram for this species was plotted. As we predicted, the results showed that the life cycle of this species was affected by the increasing temperature. The implications of these new data for determining the minimum PMI in forensic entomology were discussed.
ABSTRACT
@#Sarcocystosis, a parasitic infection caused by a protozoa belonging to the genus Sarcocystis, is found worldwide in both and animals. Sarcocystis spp., require two animal hosts to complete their life cycle. The infection has gathered more global attention after recent outbreaks, especially amongst wester travellers to Malaysia. Other than sporadic cases and the current outbreaks, little information is available regarding human Sarcocystis infection in Malaysia. The present study aims to determine the prevalence of sarcocystosis among humans using an immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test applied to dried blood on filter papers. A total of 200 blood samples were collected on filter papers from autopsy cases at two Malaysian hospitals: Sungai Buloh Hospital (peninsular Malaysia) and Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Malaysian Borneo). Antigens were prepared from bradyzoites harvested from positive goats’ muscle samples. Of the 200 samples, 32 (16%) had Sarcocystis antibodies that showed positive fluorescence reactions on filter papers. There was no significant difference (t-test, p value > 0.05) in prevalence rates between samples collected from autopsies at peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo. The results demonstrated that the filter paper technique can be used as one of the alternative serological tests in the diagnostic of human sarcocystosis.