Madhu Bala

The effect of starvation on the larval behavior of two forensically important species of blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

The postfeeding larval stage in blow flies is generally an irreversible condition when the fully grown third instar larvae stop feeding and give no response towards food. The larvae of most species then disperse away from their feeding medium and pupariate. There are several cases reported about the use of postfeeding larvae as forensic evidence. It is a matter of common observation that the postfeeding stage can be reached earlier than the expected time if food becomes unavailable. However, no information is available on whether postfeeding stage induced by scarcity of food is also irreversible. Similarly, the minimum period of development required by the larvae of different blow flies species to enable their survival as postfeeding larvae and pupariation in the absence of food is unknown. It was observed during the present studies that the larvae of two Chrysomya species must feed for at least 35 h at 28 degrees C in order to be capable of reaching the postfeeding stage and subsequent pupariation. Duration of the starvation period required to induce postfeeding behavior decreases with increasing age of larvae. In the case of Chrysomya megacephala, 35, 45, 55 and 65 h old larvae attained irreversible postfeeding stage after 30, 20, 12 and 2 h of starvation, respectively. Similarly, larvae of Chrysomya rufifacies that were 35, 45, 55 and 60 h old attained irreversible postfeeding stage after 25, 16, 6 and 2 h of starvation, respectively.

Larval survival of two species of forensically important blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) after submergence in water

Survival of larvae of known ages after 2 to 6u2003h of submersion under water was assessed by observing pupation and adult emergence in the cases of two blowflies of forensic importance, Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) and Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart). Lowest survival occurred among 10‐h‐old larvae, which could not tolerate more than 2u2003h of submergence. Even with such a small period of submergence success of survival was only 33%. There were no survivors when 20‐ and 30‐h‐old larvae were submerged for more than 3 and 4u2003h, respectively. In the cases of 40‐, 50‐, 60‐ and 70‐h‐old larvae there were no survivors if submergence was more than 5u2003h. The results show that there is an inverse relationship between submergence period and survival rate: the longer the submergence period, the lesser is the survival rate. This study provides data that are potentially useful in estimating the minimum time since submergence (TSS) of a corpse during forensic investigations.

Insect Faunal Succession on Buried Piece of Pork in the State of Punjab (India): A Preliminary Study

Forensic entomology is the application and study of insects and other arthropod biology to criminal matters. It involves the interaction of arthropods (mainly insects) with legal activity. Successional studies were carried out on 5kg of pork piece used as research model which was clothed with the cotton cloth and buried at a depth of 30cm in the forest area of Ghawaddi village of Ludhiana (Punjab) (India). The pork was exhumed two times, in morning and evening. Whole process of decomposition took sixteen days and divided into four decompositional stages- fresh, bloated, active decay and decay stage. Total 10 beetle species belonging to 6 families i.e. Euspilotus assimilis, Saprinus pensylvanicus, Saprinus sp. (Histeridae), Gonocephalum patruele, Typhaea stercorea, Tenebrio molitor (Tenebrionidae), Dermestes maculatus (Dermestidae), Hybosorus sp. (Scarabidae), Pterostichus melanarius (Carabidae) and Necrobia sp. (Cleridae) were observed. From order Hymenoptera 2 species i.e nCamponotus compressus and Pheidole indica belonging to family Formicidae were observed during different stages of decomposition.

Studies on Larval Dispersal in Two Species of Blow Flies(Diptera: Calliphoridae)

The blow fly larvae leave the food source after reaching maturity, and begin to disperse in order to fi nd suitable places for pupariation, a process commonly called postfeeding larval dispersal. Some important aspects of this process were studied by allowing the postfeeding larvae of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) and Chrysomya rufi facies (Macquart) to disperse from the center of a circular arena. The arena was divided into 4 circles starting from the center in order to determine the location of each pupa. The relationship between distance from the center and the weight of each pupa was evaluated statistically. It was observed that the lighter larvae tend to move longer distances. The greatest concentration of pupae was found in distances lesser than 100 cm in both the species though it was more evident in case of C. rufi facies. The study of this dispersal process can be important while estimating the minimum postmortem ninterval (PMI) of human cadavers during forensic investigations.

Insect faunal succession studies on pork carrion in Punjab, India

An insect faunal Succession study on pork carrion was carried out in rural area of district Ludhiana, Punjab, India. Four decomposition stages viz., Fresh, Bloated, Decay and Dry stage were recognized during this experiment. They were separated by taking into account the occurrence and abundance of the specific groups of insects collected from pork as well as condition of pork carrion viz., dehydration, disintegration, flaccidity and desiccation. Fresh stage is recorded with the highest value of species richness and abundance. A total of eighteen species belonging to three orders and ten families were recorded. Diptera, Coleoptera and Hymenoptera were dominating insect fauna on the pork carrion. Four species of Calliphoridae, one of Sarcophagidae, three of Muscidae and one of Anthomyidae were recorded on pork. Five Coleopteran families i.e. Histeridae, Dermestidae, Tenebrionidae, Staphylinidae, Nitidulidae and two species belonging to family Formicidae (Hymenoptera) were also observed.

Reproductive drugs and environmental contamination: quantum, impact assessment and control strategies

Industrial and municipal solid wastes, noise, pesticides, fertilizers and vehicular emission are visible pollutants responsible for environmental contamination and ill-effects on health of all living systems. But, environmental contamination due to drugs or medicines used for different purposes in humans and animals goes unseen largely and can affect the health of living system severely. During the last few decades, the usage of drugs has increased drastically, resulting in increased drug load in soil and water. Contraceptive and fertility drugs are extensively and effectively used in humans as well as animals for different purposes. Usage of these reproductive drugs in humans is increased manifold to manage reproductive problems and/or for birth control with changing lifestyles. These drugs are excreted in urine and faeces as metabolite or conjugated forms, leading to contamination of water, milk and animal produce, which are consumed directly by humans as well as animals. These drugs are not eliminated even by water treatment plant. Consumption of such contaminated water, milk, meat and poultry products results in reproductive disorders such as fertility loss in men and increase risk of different types of cancers in humans. Therefore, assessment of impact of environmental contamination by these drugs on living system is of paramount importance. The purpose of this review article is to provide a comprehensive analysis of various research and review reports on different contraceptive and fertility drugs used in human and animals, their occurrence in the environment and their ill-effects on living systems. The approaches to control this invisible menace have also been proposed.

Ophthalmic manifestations of Paederus dermatitis

PurposeTo report the pattern of ophthalmic manifestations associated with Paederus dermatitis (PD).SettingDepartment of Ophthalmology, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Amritsar, India.DesignClinic-based retrospective study.MethodsMedical charts of patients presenting to the eye clinic with clinical features consistent with the diagnosis of PD from May 1, 2014 to April 30, 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Relevant demographic and clinical data of periocular and ocular findings were collected and analyzed. The patients with a history of chronic skin disorders or allergies were excluded from the study.ResultsA total of 56 patients were included in the study, of which 39 (69.6xa0%) were males. The age range was 4–65xa0years with a median of 27xa0years. On presentation, common subjective symptoms were burning sensation in 49 (87.5xa0%), itching in 37 (66.1xa0%), watering in 25 (44.6xa0%), foreign body sensation in 19 (33.9xa0%), blurring of vision in 17 (30.4xa0%), and photophobia in 12 (21.4xa0%) patients. Visual acuity at presentation was 20/20 in 39 (69.6xa0%) patients, between 20/30 and 20/80 in 9 (16.1xa0%) patients, and less than 20/80 in 8 (14.3xa0%) patients. Lid swelling, erythema, crusts, and vesicles were the common periocular findings; and conjunctival hyperemia, discharge, and corneal erosions were the common ocular findings.ConclusionsThe current study shows that PD can cause significant ocular morbidity. Ophthalmologists, especially those who work in endemic areas, should be aware of this entity both in terms of management as well as for educating patients about the preventive measures.

Case Study and PMI Estimation of Male Corpse from Ludhiana, Punjab, India: An Implication of ADH Method

Forensic entomology is the study of how insects consume decomposing human remains and provide data which can aid medical/legal investigations. Common questions answered through the use of forensic entomology include time since death, movement of a body from one location to another, determination of environmental conditions to which a body has been exposed, location of traumatic wound sites, identification of toxicological deaths, and location of drug trafficking. Present case study deals with the estimation of Postmortem interval (PMI) by using Accumulated degree hour (ADH) method. 45 years old male corpse was recovered from house in residential area of Ludhiana, Punjab, India on 5 April 2015. Wounds resulting from sharp-edge weapon were found on the head. Numerous second instar larvae were collected from the body. The larvae were reared and identified as Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius). Temperature and humidity data was taken from Meterological Department of Punjabi University, Patiala.

Development of two forensically important blowfly species (Chrysomya megacephala and Chrysomya rufifacies) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) at four temperatures in India

The development of the Oriental latrine fly, Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius), and hairy maggot blowfly, C.u2009rufifacies (Macquart) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), was studied at four different temperatures (22°C, 25°C, 29°C and 31°C) in order to draw correlations between larval age, body length and body dry weight. The mean larval body length increased steadily from a minimum of 1.4u2009mm for C.u2009megacephala and 1.8u2009mm for C.u2009rufifacies to a maximum of 17.4u2009mm for C.u2009megacephala and 15.9u2009mm for C.u2009rufifacies at different temperatures. Similarly, the mean dry weight increased steadily from a minimum of 0.0007u2009g for C.u2009megacephala (second instar) and 0.0008u2009g for C.u2009rufifacies (second instar) to a maximum of 0.0290u2009g for C.u2009megacephala and 0.0270u2009g for C.u2009rufifacies at different temperatures. Entomological evidence is often used to estimate the minimum postmortem interval (mPMI) and both of these species are important from a forensic point of view. Graphs of age of larvae vs. body length and age of larvae vs. dry body weight at different temperatures can be used to estimate the larval age of these two species.