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130065

Flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, Muscidae) associated with human corpses in Alexandria, Egypt

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Last updated: 25 Dec 2024

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Abstract

During the period from 20 May 2000 to 8 May 2002, 15 human corpses found in different seasons and habitats in Alexandria, Egypt were investigated for insect evidence. The present study aimed to identify and record the different species of flies infesting the corpses to establish a database for the potential use of insects as forensic indicators in Alexandria. Insect collecting was performed during an autopsy at El-Esaaf Morgue, Kom El-Deka, Alexandria. All the corpses examined were enrolled in death investigations. Larvae of six fly species belonging to three families were collected from the corpses; Calliphora vicina, Chrysomya albiceps, Chrysomya megacephala, and Lucilia sericata (Calliphoridae); Sarcophaga argyrostoma (Sarcophagidae); and Muscina stabulans (Muscidae). These fly species were the initial colonizers of the corpses and, hence, are important in minimum postmortem interval estimates in Alexandria. Larvae of Calliphoridae were the most common and abundant insects, collected from 86.66% of the corpses and infested corpses in all seasons and habitats. Chr. albiceps was the most common species, invading 73.33% of the corpses of which 33.33% of infestations were found in urban, indoor situations. Outdoor infestations of corpses by this species accounted for 40%. Larvae of Chr. albiceps were collected from corpses in all seasons and were found to monopolize six corpses. Chr. megacephala, L. sericata, and S. argyrostoma were able to invade each 20% of the corpses where they acted as primary flies. S. argyrostoma was found to be a highly indicative species to corpses found in urban, indoor habitats during the warmer seasons. Three cases of forensic entomology interest are presented and discussed.

DOI

10.21608/jbaar.2018.130065

Keywords

Forensic entomology, human corpses, Calliphoridae, Chrysomya albiceps, Egypt

Authors

First Name

Tarek

Last Name

Tantawi

MiddleName

I.

Affiliation

1Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

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City

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Orcid

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First Name

Ibrahim

Last Name

El-Shenawy

MiddleName

E.

Affiliation

Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

Email

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City

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Orcid

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First Name

Hoda

Last Name

Abd El-Salam

MiddleName

F.

Affiliation

Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

Email

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City

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Orcid

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First Name

Somia

Last Name

Madkour

MiddleName

A.

Affiliation

Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

Email

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City

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Orcid

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First Name

Nevine

Last Name

Mahany

MiddleName

M.

Affiliation

Forensic Medicine Directorate, Alexandria, Ministry of Justice, Egypt

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City

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Volume

4

Article Issue

2

Related Issue

19379

Issue Date

2018-06-01

Receive Date

2018-02-23

Publish Date

2018-06-02

Page Start

106

Page End

130

Print ISSN

2356-9174

Online ISSN

2356-9182

Link

https://jbaar.journals.ekb.eg/article_130065.html

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https://jbaar.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=130065

Order

3

Type

Original Article

Type Code

1,272

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Journal of Bioscience and Applied Research

Publication Link

https://jbaar.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, Muscidae) associated with human corpses in Alexandria, Egypt

Details

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Article

Created At

22 Jan 2023