Major organ loss from post-mortem animal predation: Issues arising from emptied body cavities

2021 ◽  
pp. 002580242110202
Author(s):  
Roger W Byard
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Science ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Complete Loss ◽  
Significant Problem ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Extreme Situation ◽  
Major Organ ◽  
Insect Activity

The feeding of animals on bodies after death – so-called post-mortem animal predation – may complicate autopsy interpretations when there has been removal of significant amounts of skin and tissues. An extreme situation which sometimes arises is the complete evisceration and/or consumption of all major cavity organs. Search of autopsy files at Forensic Science South Australia was undertaken for examples of this phenomenon. Although such a finding at autopsy may suggest the actions of larger animals such as dogs or sharks, it may also occur when groups of smaller animals, such as cats, act in concert. Complete loss of organs may also occur if significant insect activity accompanies decomposition. Empty body cavities may therefore result from of a wide variety of animal activities involving a range of species in quite different environments. A significant problem once organs have been removed or consumed is in identifying or excluding natural diseases or injuries that may have played a role in the lethal episode.

How common are suicides using nitrous oxide?

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 160-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger W. Byard ◽  
Karen Heath
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Forensic Science ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Relative Ease ◽  
Plastic Bag

Analysis of autopsy cases of suicide from Forensic Science South Australia files (2003–2017) where helium, nitrogen or nitrous oxide gas had been used revealed that only 2/58 (3.5%) cases utilised nitrous oxide; the remainder of cases had used helium or nitrogen. The two cases are presented here. In case 1, a 48-year-old man was found completely encased in a plastic bag with a hose connected to an opened cylinder of nitrous oxide. In case 2, a 27-year-old woman was found with a plastic bag over her head, tied around her neck, with a tube connected to a small canister of nitrous oxide. There were approximately 20 empty canisters of nitrous oxide nearby. Death in both cases was due to nitrous oxide augmentation of plastic bag asphyxia, manner suicide. The relative ease with which helium and nitrogen cylinders containing large amounts of gas can be obtained may explain the low numbers of suicides utilising nitrous oxide.

The ‘canine rescue’ phenomenon

2020 ◽  
pp. 002580242095507
Author(s):  
Roger W Byard ◽  
Neil EI Langlois
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Science ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Environmental Hazards ◽  
News Sources ◽  
Dangerous Situation ◽  
Forensic Investigations ◽  
Serious Injury ◽  
Characteristic Features ◽  
House Fires ◽  
Internet Databases

While deaths caused by interactions with dogs in medico-legal situations most often involve trauma from attacks, in certain circumstances, deaths may occur from sharing environmental hazards that the animal has been exposed to during attempted rescues. Search of the Forensic Science South Australia (FSSA), Australia, autopsy database over a 16-year period from 2004 to 2020 found three such cases, including two women aged 46 and 61 years who were both killed in separate incidents after being struck by vehicles when they attempted to rescue dogs that had strayed onto busy roads. The final case was a 53-year-old man who drowned in a river while trying to rescue his dog. A review of Internet databases and news sources revealed other cases where would-be dog rescuers had drowned in rivers and the sea or had succumbed to hypothermia in frozen lakes and waterways. Other hazardous situations involve house fires, falls from heights, electrocution and envenomation. The characteristic features of these cases are of a dog (often a pet) getting itself into, or being found in, a dangerous situation, with owners or bystanders then attempting rescue. The dangers of the situation are either ignored or underestimated by the rescuers who often also misjudge the capacity of dogs to survive/self-rescue. Cases may therefore be encountered in forensic investigations where death or serious injury has occurred during attempts to protect an animal from particular types of environmental dangers. Unlike the owners, it is not infrequently documented that the dogs have survived the danger unharmed.

Potential significance of swastika tattoos in a medico-legal setting

2020 ◽  
pp. 002580242097353
Author(s):  
Roger W Byard
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Science ◽  
Retrospective Review ◽  
Psychiatric Illness ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Religious Groups ◽  
White Supremacist ◽  
Potential Significance ◽  
Religious Background ◽  
Unnatural Death ◽  
Asian Male

Although the increasing popularity of tattoos has challenged the previous associations with criminality and psychiatric illness, particular subsets of tattooed individuals may still have an association with unnatural deaths in a forensic context. A retrospective review of the autopsy database at Forensic Science South Australia was undertaken over a 23-year period from 1997 to 2019 for cases with swastika tattoos. Twenty-six cases (23 males and 3 females) were identified, ranging in age from 19 to 67 years ( Mage = 36 years). The cases comprised seven (27%) suicides, seven (27%) accidents (including five vehicle crashes), five (19%) drug-related deaths (toxicity/overdose), four (15.4%) natural deaths and three (11.5%) homicides. There were significantly more unnatural deaths in the group with swastika tattoos compared to tattooed controls ( p < 0.01). Multiple swastikas, expletives and white supremacist sentiments were also present in a number of cases. However, in one Asian male, the presence of a sacred Buddhist tattoo suggested that the swastika tattoo instead had religious rather than antisocial/racist significance. This study shows that in the population of individuals undergoing forensic autopsies, subgroups may be identified by their tattoos who have a predisposition to violent and unnatural death. Evaluation of this risk has to be tempered by considering the cultural/religious background of a decedent, as the symbol may have completely different connotations for certain religious groups such as Jains, Hindus and Buddhists.

scholarly journals Changes in the Microbiome at the Onset and End of Decomposition

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
J Thomas Mc Clintock ◽  
◽  
Michael J Erquiaga ◽  
Mia R Fabbri ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Activity ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Extraction Methods ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Bacterial Phyla ◽  
Post Mortem Interval ◽  
Bacterial Succession ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Insect Activity ◽  
Dna Extraction Methods

Decomposition is a rapidly evolving process that is dependent on various environmental factors such as climate, temperature, insect activity, large vertebrate scavenging, and microbial activity. Although other factors such as body weight and time have been evaluated, microbial activity should be considered as another major component in the decomposition process. This study was designed to investigate the microbiome and potential bacterial succession using two different DNA extraction methods, classic microbiologic techniques and 16S ribosomal sequencing at the onset and end of decomposition. Differences were observed between the bacterial phyla found on Day 1 versus Day 6. Among the various phyla, several different bacterial species were observed such as Kurthia gibsonii, K. sibirica, Staphylococcus sciuri, S. lentus, and Serratia marcescens. An interesting change in the phyla present was observed for Day 6. None of the bacterial samples collected on any of the anatomical sites were identified in the phylum Firmicutes. In fact, most of the bacteria collected from the mouth, nose, and genitals were identified in the phyla Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria. Two different bacterial species, Myroides odoratus and Leucobacter aridicollis were present in the two phyla at Day 6 that were not observed at the onset of decomposition. Likewise, many of the bacterial species present at Day 1 were not observed in Day 6. The difference in bacterial diversity observed at the onset and end of decomposition suggest that a timeline or bacterial succession could be developed that could support post-mortem interval determinations

Post-Mortem Fibrinolysis: Identification of Post-Mortem Bloodstains in Forensic Science

1973 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 1202-1204
Author(s):  
GRAHAM B. DIVALL ◽  
P. H. WHITEHEAD
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Science ◽  
Post Mortem

scholarly journals 3. Flies Larva On White Rat Carcass (Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout, 1769) With Various Treatment Outdoor

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ichsan Luqmana Indra Putra ◽  
Sadda Salisa Yahya
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Rattus Norvegicus ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Time Of Death ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Post Mortem Interval ◽  
The Third ◽  
Fly Larvae ◽  
Insect Activity ◽  
Sarcophaga Argyrostoma

Insect activity including its life cycle can determine the estimated time of death or Post Mortem Interval (PMI). One type of insect that plays an important role in determining the estimated time of death is flies. This study aims to determine the types of flies that come to the carcass and to determine the types of flies that dominate and less dominate from each treatment onwhite rat (carcassesR. norvegicusmale) outdoors. This study consisted of 3 treatments with 3 repetitions each. The treatments included A (neck bone dislocation), B (burned), and C (poisoned). Carcass observations were carried out for 10 days and larvae collection was carried out every 2 days starting from the third day of observation. The parameters observed included the number and morphological characteristics of instar 3 fly larvae. The types of fly larvae found in all treatments were Lucilia illustris (5.42%), Sarcophaga sp (12.80%), Sarcophaga argyrostoma (30.62%), and Sarcophaga variegata (51.16%). The dominant fly larvae of the three treatments was S. variegata and the less dominant fly larvae was L. illustris.

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