Journal Published Online: 01 May 2001
Volume 46, Issue 3

Human and Insect Mitochondrial DNA Analysis from Maggots

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

During the course of our forensic investigations, we have encountered situations where it would have been useful to have evidence, other than direct contact between the two, for concluding that a carrion-fly maggot developed on a particular human victim. If a maggot collected during a death investigation did not develop on the victim, then its age is not relevant to estimating the postmortem interval. In this study we demonstrate that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence data can be obtained from the dissected gut of a maggot that had fed on human tissue. These data can be used to identify both the human corpse upon which the maggot had been feeding and the species of the maggot itself.

Author Information

Wells, JD
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Introna, F
Sezione di Medicina Legale (D.I.M.I.M.P.), Università di Bari, Policlinico, Bari, Italy
Di Vella, G
Sezione di Medicina Legale (D.I.M.I.M.P.), Università di Bari, Policlinico, Bari, Italy
Campobasso, CP
Sezione di Medicina Legale (D.I.M.I.M.P.), Università di Bari, Policlinico, Bari, Italy
Hayes, J
University of Texas at San Antonio, School of Public Health, Boerne, TX
Sperling, FAH
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Pages: 3
Price: $25.00
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Stock #: JFS15022J
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS15022J