"Deadman speaks always" to solve a case police required cause and time of death of an unknown body.
By analyzing the insects it would be easy and Breakthrough for a case as concerned.
2. WHAT IS FORENSIC ENTOMOLOGY?
• Forensic entomology is the science of collecting
and analysing insect evidence to aid in forensic
investigations.
• Its main application is in the determination
of the minimum time since death in cases of suspicious
death, either by estimating the age of the oldest necrophagous
insects that developed on the corpse, or by analysing
the insect species composition on the corpse.
• There are three areas of application:
a)Insect damage to structures
b)Infestation of foodstuffs
c)Insects that inhabit human remains
Fig-1-Dipteran insects Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae and Muscidae on
fresh porcupine corpse are among the first colonisers/
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3. APPLICATION
OF INSECT IN
FORENSIC
ENTOMOLOGY
Estimation of Time Since Death/Post Mortem Interval (PMI)
The primary application of insects answering questions in death investigation is
to estimate when the victim died
Estimation of Location or Point of Death
Another application of entomology is using the ranges of a specific insect
species’ geographic distribution to establish from where a body originated
Identification of Area of Trauma in Extensively Decomposed Body
Insects can be used to identify areas of trauma ondecomposed remains when
major changes have taken place in the soft tissues on the body
Entomotoxicology
The maggots may be used to determine the presence or absence of drugs when
human body tissues are badly decomposed to do toxicology on the tissue
Identification of Suspect/Criminal
Techniques for analyzing molecular DNA structures of insects for species
identification and the human DNA in insects that feed on humans
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4. INSECTS AS EVIDENCE
• Forensic entomologists use their knowledge of
insects and their life cycles and behaviors to give
them clues about a crime.
• Most insects used in investigations are in two
major orders:
a)Flies (Diptera) and
b)Beetles (Coleoptera)
• Species succession may also provide clues for
investigators.
• Some species may to feed on a fresh corpse, while
another species may prefer to feed on one that
has been dead for two weeks.
• Investigators will also find other insect species
that prey on the insects feeding on the corpse.
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5. WHAT IS FORENSIC
PATHOLOGY?
• Forensic pathology is the study of injuries and/or disease in
order to determine the cause of death.
• Forensic pathologists are also often asked to confirm the
identity of the corpse.
What does a Forensic Pathologist do?
• Performs autopsies/post mortem examinations to find out
the cause of death.
• Presents a report about the pathologic process, injury, or
disease that results in or initiates events which lead to a
person's death, and the manner of death, most are one of
the following:
• Accidental
• Natural
• Homicide
• Suicide
• Undetermined
Fig-2
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6. • The autopsy also provides an opportunity for other issues raised by the death to be addressed, such as the
collection of trace evidence or determining the identity of the deceased.
• The forensic pathologist examines and documents wounds and injuries, at autopsy, at the scene of a crime and
occasionally in a clinical setting, such as rape investigation or deaths in custody.
• Forensic pathologists collect and examine tissue specimens under the microscope (histology) to identify the
presence or absence of natural disease and other microscopic findings such as asbestos bodies in the lungs or
gunpowder particles around a gunshot wound.
• They collect and interpret toxicological specimens of body tissues and fluids to determine the chemical cause of
accidental overdoses or deliberate poisonings.
• Forensic pathologists work closely with the medico-legal authority for the area concerned with the investigation
of sudden and unexpected deaths: the coroner (England and Wales), procurator fiscal (Scotland), or coroner or
medical examiner (United States).
PROCESS IN FORENSIC PATHOLOGY
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7. ROLE OF PATHOLOGIST
• Cause of Death – medical diagnosis denoting disease or injury
• Mechanism of Death – altered physiology by which
disease/injury produces death (arrhythmia, exsanguination)
• Manner of Death
1. Homicide
2. Suicide
3. Accidental
4. Natural Causes
5. Unknown
• Time of Death
• Determine type of wound
• Measure the dimensions (length, width, depth)
• Position relative to anatomical landmarks
• Determine initial location if wound involves cutting, slashing,
etc.
• Anatomic: involves evaluation of tissues
removed from living or dead individuals.
Examples are autopsy, surgical, and
cytopathology.
• Clinical: involves the evaluation of the
body fluids by laboratory means. Examples
are hematology, microbiology, blood
banking, toxicology, and immunology.
BRANCHES OF PATHOLOGY
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8. • Forensic entomology: applications and limitations
J. Amendt • C. S. Richards • C. P. Campobasso •R. Zehner • M. J. R. Hall
• A. Eriksson
Forensic Pathology
Forensic Epidemiology, 2016, pp. 151-177
• Dr. Arif Rasheed Malik, Prof. (2017). Forensic Medicine V/S Forensic Pathology. (A Difference That Everyone
Should Know). Annals of King Edward Medical University. 23. 10.21649/akemu.v23i1.1504.
• Weedn, Victor. (2006). Forensic Pathology. JAMA. 296. 704. 10.1001/jama.296.6.707.
REFERENCES
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