Human and insect mitochondrial DNA analysis from maggots
Wells, J.D.; Introna, F.; Di Vella, G.; Campobasso, C.P.; Hayes, J.; Sperling, F.A.
Journal of Forensic Sciences 46(3): 685-687
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-1198 PMID: 11373008 Document Number: 531348
During the course of our forensic investigations, we have encountered situations where it would have been useful to have evidence, other than direct contact between the two, for concluding that a carrion-fly maggot developed on a particular human victim. If a maggot collected during a death investigation did not develop on the victim, then its age is not relevant to estimating the postmortem interval. In this study we demonstrate that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence data can be obtained from the dissected gut of a maggot (Cynomyopsis cadaverina) that had fed on human tissue. These data can be used to identify both the human corpse upon which the maggot had been feeding and the species of the maggot itself.