RESUMO
Objective To detect the changes of microbial community functional diversity of corpses with different postmortem interval(PMI)and to evaluate forensic application value for estimating PMI. Methods The cultivation of microbial community from the anal swabs of aSusscrofaand a human corpse placed in field environment from 0 to 240 h after death was performed using the Biolog-Eco Mi-croplate and the variations of the absorbance values were also monitored. Combined with the technology of forensic pathology and flies succession, the metabolic characteristics and changes of microbial commu-nity on the decomposed corpse under natural environment were also observed.Results The diversity of microbial metabolism function was found to be negatively correlated with the number of maggots in the corpses. The freezing processing had the greatest impact on average well color development value at 0 h and the impact almost disappeared after 48 h. The diversity of microbial metabolism of the samples be-came relatively unstable after 192 h. The principal component analysis showed that 31 carbon sources could be consolidated for 5 principal components(accumulative contribution ratio >90%). The carbon source tsquare-analysis showed thatN-acetyl-D-glucosamine andL-serine were the dominant carbon sources for estimating the PMI(0=240 h)of theSusscrofaand human corpse.Conclusion The Biolog-Eco method can be used to reveal the metabolic differences of the carbon resources utilization of the microbial community on the corpses during 0-240 h after death, which could provide a new basis for estimating the PMI.
RESUMO
Objective To explore the growing development and community succession of main sarcos-aphagous insects on pig carcasses in summer indoor and outdoor environment in Shenzhen area and to estimate the postmortem interval (PMI). Methods From early May to August in 2013, in Forensic Med-ical Examination Center of Shenzhen Public Security Bureau, the main insect species and the decomposi-tion process were observed in two adult pig carcasses of simulative indoor and outdoor environment. The different decomposition stages and the community succession of insects were recorded. Results The indoor and outdoor pig carcasses showed skeleton 412.5 and 325 hours after death, respectively. The main species of flies on pig carcasses were Chrysomya megacephala, Chrysomya rufifacies and Chrysomya chani. The main species of beetles were Crecphilus maxillosus, Necrobia ruficollis, Saprinus splendens and Dermestes maculatu. The dominant species of flies in the outdoor pig carcasses obviously produced the second generations due to the effect of mass rainfall, nor in the indoor pig carcasses. Conclusion There are regular patterns on the community succession of insects on pig carcasses in summer indoor and out-door environment in Shenzhen area. The activity patterns of seven typical insects and their larva show important value for estimating PMI.