Estimating the Postmortem Interval of Wild Boar Carcasses

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Forensics
• Wildlife Ecology
• Decomposition Studies

Background:

• Accurate postmortem interval (PMI) estimation is vital for managing African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks in wild boar populations.
• Understanding wild boar decomposition rates in various microhabitats is necessary for effective wildlife disease surveillance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and describe the decomposition process of wild boar carcasses.
• To compare the decomposition rates of wild boar versus domestic pigs.
• To develop a reliable method for estimating the PMI of wild boar.

Main Methods:

• Carcasses of wild boar (Sus scrofa) and domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus) were exposed in cages under different microhabitat conditions (sunlight, shade, wallow).
• A modified human total body scoring system was adapted to assess the decomposition state of wild boar carcasses.
• Field checklist development based on observed decomposition patterns.

Main Results:

• Wild boar carcasses decomposed significantly slower than domestic pig carcasses.
• Carcass decomposition was faster in sunlight compared to shade.
• Carcasses placed in a wallow exhibited the slowest decomposition rate.

Conclusions:

• Forensic standards for domestic pigs are not directly applicable to wild boar for PMI estimation.
• Environmental factors like sunlight and wallowing significantly influence wild boar decomposition rates.
• A tailored checklist can improve the reliability of PMI estimation for wild boar carcasses in field investigations.