Molecular differentiation of Central European blowfly species (Diptera, Calliphoridae) using mitochondrial and nuclear genetic markers

The Calliphoridae family is considered an important source of information involved in medical, veterinary and forensic investigations [1,2]. It may be used to detect abuses, abandonment or neglect in addition to its usefulness in murder caseworks [3–5]. Blowfly species are commonly associated with carcass decomposition, necrotic tissues in wounds (superficial myiasis) and the presence of feces or urine in skin (rectal or urogenital myiasis) [6]. The current aging population and the global economic crisis may result in a change in the scope of Forensic Entomology, with an increasing number of deaths in which the period of insect activity (PIA) exceeds the post-mortem interval (PMI) [3,7], which may indicate the involvement of neglect or abandonment previous to the death [4,8].

Source: Forensic Science International - July 26, 2014 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Maite GilArriortua, Marta I. Saloña Bordas, Stephan Köhnemann, Heidi Pfeiffer, Marian M. de Pancorbo Source Type: research