engleski

Estimation of the postmortem interval based on the biochemical parameters of vitreous fluid of red deer: Possible application in poaching investigations

The ability to estimate the post mortem interval (PMI) in wild species is a skill greatly desired by law enforcement personnel or by crime scene investigator. This could be of crucial importance as evidence in poaching investigations to determine whether the animals were hunted during the closed season or to match the presence of a suspect at an illegal take scene (area where they do not have permission for hunting). Understanding of the physical and chemical changes that occur in the body post-mortem is critical for accurate interpretation of gross and microscopic pathological lesions. Furthermore, the und erstanding of many unpredictable changes governed by postmortal processes and the factors that affect them will ensure more accurate estimation of PM I. Biochemical analysis of different body fluids in relation to death interval has become a useful supplementary procedure to other traditionally used signs. The vitreous fluid is one of the body fluids that could be of substantial importance in assessment of PMI. Herein, the preliminary study of the correlation between increasing PMI and levels of the different biochemical parameters in vitreous fluid (sodium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, potassium, phosphorous, AST, urea, creatinine, total protein, glucose and total cholesterol) is presented. The eyes from six red deer carcasses were enucleated and covered by a parafilm and aluminium foil, packed in a small container and maintained at +4°C. Sampling of vitreous fluid was done at 8, 10 and 12 h postmortem and then regularly each 10 hours till final 90 hours. Linear regression ana lysis was applied to model the correlation between analysed biochemical parameters and time since death. The sign ificant linear corre lation was found for potassium and sodium level in vitreous fluid (p < 0.0001 ). Th is preliminary data showed that the changes in the level of potassium and sodium in the vitreous fluid cou ld be used to determine the PMI in red deer.

PMI ; vitreous fluid ; red deer ; poaching

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