Robert D. Hall

Comparative Performance and Complementarity of Four Sampling Methods and Arthropod Preference Tests from Human and Porcine Remains at the Forensic Anthropology Center in Knoxville, Tennessee

Abstract Comparative performance and complementarity tests of four arthropod sampling methods (aerial netting, hand collection, pitfall traps, and sticky traps), used by forensic entomologists in death investigations, training workshops, and research trials, were conducted from simultaneously placed human and porcine subjects inside the Forensic Anthropology Center at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN. A secondary aim investigated the widely held claim that pig carcasses are reliable surrogates for human corpses. Over a 35-d period in summer 1989, >72,000 invertebrates from three subjects (one human, two pigs) were sampled of which 93% were members of the forensically important (FI) fauna. Performance tests revealed that hand collections, when performed by an experienced forensic entomologist, consistently yielded the largest fraction of FI arthropods from the total invertebrate catch, followed by aerial netting, sticky traps, and pitfall traps, regardless of subject. Pitfall traps and hand collections were broadly effective at sampling both fly and beetle populations, whereas aerial netting and sticky traps mostly targeted flies. The best two-method combination, based on the highest combined catches of FI taxa, were hand collections and pitfall traps, regardless of subject. Between-subject comparisons revealed negligible preference by FI arthropods for human over pig remains. Insofar as our limited comparisons allow with only three study subjects, these results validated the concept of transferability of “best practices” from one subject to another and confirmed the claim that pig carcasses (of 23–27-kg starting mass) can substitute for human corpses in research and training programs, at least for summer-exposed and unconcealed remains in the first 5 wk postmortem.

An approach to the treatment of psychogenic parasitosis

BackgroundPatients with psychogenic parasitosis typically seek help from nonpsychiatric physicians and can be difficult and time‐consuming to treat. Pimozide has been promoted as the treatment of choice but is not indicated for every patient presenting with this symptom. Our purpose was to develop a realistic treatment protocol for the nonpsychiatric physician faced with these patients.

Carcass Enrichment Does Not Alter Decay Rates or Arthropod Community Structure: A Test of the Arthropod Saturation Hypothesis at the Anthropology Research Facility in Knoxville, Tennessee

Abstract In a test of an arthropod saturation hypothesis, we asked if the 30-yr history of carcass enrichment at the Anthropology Research Facility, Knoxville TN, has altered carcass decay rates or community structure of sarcosaprophagous arthropods, compared with three local nonenriched sites. Over a 12-d period in 1998, using pitfall traps and sweep nets, we sampled a total of 81,000 invertebrates from freshly euthanized pigs (Sus scrofa L.) placed in these sites. From this number, we sorted 69,286 forensically important (sarcosaprophagous) arthropods. The community structure of these organisms, as measured by species and individuals accumulation curves, rarefaction, and nonparametric correlation, was comparable in all four sites in taxonomic similarity, colonization rates, aerial species richness, and ranked abundances of forensically important taxa on a per carcass basis. Measures of carcass decay rate, remaining carcass weight (%) and periodic weight loss, also were similar. In most cases, carcass surface temperatures and maggot mass temperatures were also statistically indistinguishable. Probability-based results and posthoc power analyses of these variables led us to conclude that the sarcosaprophagous arthropod community of the Anthropology Research Facility is representative of surrounding sites.

Ivermectin cattle pour-on: duration of a single late spring treatment against horn flies, Haematobia irritans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae) in Missouri, USA

Late spring treatment of cattle with a single dose of pour-on ivermectin (0.5 mg kg-1 body weight) resulted in reduced horn fly populations for approximately 6 weeks, with percentage efficacy exceeding 80% for at least 26 days post-treatment. Bioassay with house flies of dung from treated cattle demonstrated suppression of fly emergence for 11 days post-treatment. The subsequent increase in horn fly numbers on the treated herd was predicted by a developmental rate equation interpreted by the time of cessation of larval fly inhibition in field dung.

Does carcass enrichment alter community structure of predaceous and parasitic arthropods? A second test of the arthropod saturation hypothesis at the Anthropology Research Facility in Knoxville, Tennessee.

In a second test of an arthropod saturation hypothesis, we analyzed if the on-campus Anthropology Research Facility (ARF) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, with its 20+ yr history of carcass enrichment, is comparable to non-enriched sites in community structure of predatory and parasitic arthropods that prey upon the sarcosaprophagous fauna. Over a 12-day period in June 1998, using pitfall traps and sweep nets, 10,065 predaceous, parasitic, and hematophagous (blood-feeding) arthropods were collected from freshly euthanized pigs (Sus scrofa L.) placed at ARF and at three surrounding sites various distances away (S2-S4). The community structure of these organisms was comparable in most paired-site tests with respect to species composition, colonization rates, and evenness of pitfall-trap abundances on a per carcass basis. Site differences were found in rarefaction tests of both sweep-net and pitfall-trap taxa and in tests of taxonomic evenness and ranked abundances of sweep-net samples. Despite these differences, no evidence was found that the predatory/parasitic fauna at ARF was impoverished with fewer but larger populations as a result of carcass enrichment. Comparison of the sarcosaprophagous and predatory/parasitic faunas revealed a tighter (and more predictable) linkage between carrion feeders (sarcosaprovores) and their carrion than between carrion feeders and their natural enemies (predators and parasitoids), leading us to conclude that ARF is more representative of surrounding sites with respect to the sarcosaprovore component than to the predatory/parasitic component within the larger carrion-arthropod community.

Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) established in the vicinity of Knoxville, Tennessee, USA.

The hairy maggot blow fly, Chrsomya rufifacies (Macquart) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) was collected in large numbers as both adults and immatures in the Knoxville, Tennessee, area during 1998 and is likely established there. The distribution of this species in the Old World, isothermal data, and its collection from mid-Michigan during 1998 suggest that it will eventually occupy most of the U.S. The forensic importance of C. rufifacies makes it probable that it will factor into an increasing number of medicolegal cases, but the expanding distribution of this species decreases its utility as a geographic indicator when postmortem movement of decedents is suspected.

Improving the specificity of 16S rDNA-based polymerase chain reaction for detecting Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato-causative agents of human Lyme disease.

Aims:  16S rDNA sequences of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato were aligned with the 16S rDNA sequences of Borrelia hermsii, Borrelia turicatae, and Borrelia lonestari in order to identify primers that might be used to more specifically identify agents of human Lyme disease in ticks in human skin samples.

Relative abundance of tree hole-breeding mosquitoes in Boone County, Missouri, USA, with emphasis on the vector potential of Aedes triseriatus for canine heartworm, Dirofilaria immitis (Spirurida: Filariidae).

ABSTRACT Aedes (Protomacleaya) triseriatus currently shares its habitat in the USA with the introduced species Aedes (Finlaya) japonicus and Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus. In the late 1980s, before the introduction of these 2 species, Ae. triseriatus was the dominant tree hole– and artificial container–breeding mosquito in central Missouri. Aedes triseriatus represented 89% of the mosquito immatures collected from water-filled tree holes and artificial containers at 3 forested field sites in central Missouri, from May to October, 1986 to 1988. Laboratory-reared female Ae. triseriatus were able to support larval development of Dirofilaria immitis (canine heartworm) to the infective 3rd larval stage. A blood meal from a microfilaremic Collie-mix dog was sufficient to infect adult female mosquitoes, indicating that Ae. triseriatus is a possible vector of canine heartworm in central Missouri. Confirmation of the vector status of this species depends on the yet-to-be observed transmission of D. immitis by Ae. triseriatus in the field, possibly by experimental infection of dogs by wild-caught mosquitoes. Defining the role of this species in epizootic outbreaks could contribute toward accurate risk assessment as the abundance of Ae. triseriatus increases and decreases in response to the success of Ae. albopictus, Ae. japonicus, or other introduced container-breeding mosquitoes.

A Review of Natural Mortality and Enemies of the Stable Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) in Missouri

This review article summarizes the most significant results of research on mortality factors affecting populations of the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), in Missouri.

Entomology and the Law—Flies as Forensic Indicators

THE AUTHORS STATE THAT “[t]he primary purpose of this book is to provide both the entomologist and the trial lawyer with the information necessary to navigate successfully the hazards that threaten forensic entomology evidence.” To a large extent, they have accomplished their goal. However, their effort falls short on covering the entire subject of “forensic” entomology because part I of the book, capably written by accepted entomology expert Bernard Greenberg, limits itself almost exclusively to the subdiscipline that most forensic entomologists call “medicocriminal” entomologyÑthe use of insect evidence to estimate the time, and occasionally the site, of human death. Although the authors acknowledge the existence of food contamination cases, they essentially ignore the multitude of civil cases wherein forensic entomologists play a fundamental role: private nuisance actions (most often involving ßies in an agricultural setting), alleged spider bites, frequent fraud-and-abuse of the fast-food industry by those anxious to threaten lawsuits over supposed “contamination” of food products by maggots and other insects, myiasis in childor elder-abuse cases and nursing home neglect, and litigation involving structural pests. Therefore, although the subtitle “Flies as Forensic Indicators” provides some clariÞcation, the subject matter of this book might have been better reßected by a title such as “Entomology and Criminal Law.” That shortcoming accepted, this is a well-written, fairly easy read of 306 pages that will ultimately be most useful to trial lawyers confronting entomology evidence for the Þrst time. It should impart sufÞcient knowledge in short order to make counsel savvy enough to ask the proper questions or to anticipate them being asked. Part II, authored by law professor (and entomology graduate) John Kunich, provides an interesting overview of admissibility issues in relation to scientiÞc evidence. This part should be useful to attorneys and entomologists alike, because excluding evidence from the courtroom, on any of a number of legal theories, is perhaps the most effective way to see that such evidence does not inßuence the result at trial. Therefore, Kunich does a nice job of covering pretrial motions and explaining to the uninitiated why they are so important. This book will not enable nonentomologists to become forensic experts, nor to identify the Diptera taxa covered, nor to analyze forensic entomology evidence. It will, however, serve as a useful reference for the experienced medical and veterinary entomologist who is asked for an opinion in the medicocriminal context or who wishes to know more about the subject. Notable are the excellent historical overview that Greenberg provides and the various keys intended to cover Holarctic, South American, Oriental, European and Australian blow ßy species, supplemented with good line drawings or scanning electron microscope photographs. That most of these keys have been published before is not a shortcoming; indeed, those who are not reprint hounds will Þnd the compendium very helpful. Published by Cambridge University Press, the sample I received was copyrighted in 2002, well-bound, and set in a very legible Utopia 9/13 point typeface. The language was generally error-free, except that the proofreaders not surprisingly ignored throughout the American entomological convention whereby common names of true ßies are written as two separate words (e.g., blow ßy rather than blowßy). Furthermore, and unfortunately for the QueenÕs English and the proofreaders as well, the distinction between “affect” and “effect” was frequently misconstrued. As a minor point, the greenbottle ßy Phaenicia coeruleiviridis had the speciÞc name misspelled as caeruleiviridis. The case histories recounted by Greenberg demonstrate the analytical arguments often encountered in forensic entomology litigation as well as the depth of feeling that can be engendered by this sort of courtroom experience. YouÕve got to live it to understand fully, but this book gets close.