Estimating the Postmortem Interval of Carcasses in the Water Using the Carrion Insect, Brain Tissue RNA, Bacterial Biofilm, and Algae.

ABSTRACT: The accurate estimation of postmortem interval (PMI) is crucial in the investigation of homicide cases. Unlike carcasses on land, various biological and abiotic factors affect the decomposition of carcasses in water. In addition, the insect evidence (e.g., blow flies) that is commonly used to estimate the PMI are unavailable before the carcasses float on water. Therefore, it is difficult to estimate the PMI of a carcass in water. This study aimed to explore an effective way of estimating the PMI of a carcass in water. Carrion insects, brain tissue RNA, bacterial biofilm on the skin surface, and algae in water with PMI were studied using 45 rat carcasses in a small river. The results showed that carrion insects might not be suitable for the estimation of PMI of a carcass in water since they

SUBMITTER: Wang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8765475 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature