Malathion extraction from larvae of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) for determining death due to malathion
- Author:
Mahat, N.A.
;
Jayaprakash, P.T.
;
Zafarina, Z.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:Tropical Biomedicine
2012;29(1):9-17
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Abstract. The use of Chrysomya megacephala larvae for detecting malathion for diagnosing
the cause of death was investigated. This could prove useful when the visceral organs have
become liquefied during decomposition and therefore cannot be sampled. A field experiment
was conducted in which C. megacephala were allowed to colonise naturally the corpses of
rabbits that had died of malathion poisoning. The concentration of malathion increased
gradually during the larval stages of C. megacephala reaching the maximum concentration in
the third instar larvae. The concentration of malathion declined during prepupal stage and
reached its lowest level among tenerals. The average malathion concentrations in C.
megacephala growing in poisoned rabbit corpses left in a sunlit habitat were significantly
higher (p<0.05) than those growing on poisoned rabbits left in a shaded habitat. The
concentrations of malathion in the different stages of development of C. megacephala were
moderately correlated (r = 0.51-0.69) with the administered doses as well as with those
estimated in visceral organs. Thus, it would not be reliable to suggest the formulation of
mathematical algorithms for relating the concentration of malathion found in the different
stages of development of C. megacephala with those found in the visceral organs. However,
in the context of forensic investigation, the qualitative detection of malathion in C. megacephala
may prove useful in diagnosing the cause of death, since malathion is a common cause of
accidental and suicidal deaths.
- Full text:W020150618344598532118.pdf
