Dog-bite-related attacks: A new forensic approach.

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Canine DNA Analysis
• Animal Forensics

Background:

• Dog attacks pose public health risks, necessitating reliable methods for identifying the aggressor dog.
• Current forensic techniques like canine Short Tandem Repeat (STR) typing and bite mark analysis have limitations in dog attack investigations.
• Accurate identification of the attacking dog is vital for legal proceedings and owner accountability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce an innovative forensic approach for identifying an attacking dog by detecting the victim's genetic profile in the aggressor's mouth.
• To determine the persistence duration of victim DNA in a dog's oral cavity to establish an optimal time window for sample collection.
• To assess the feasibility of using buccal swabs from suspected dogs for victim DNA identification in forensic casework.

Main Methods:

• Simulated dog attacks using ten dogs biting bovine samples as reference victims.
• Collection of buccal swabs from dogs at various time intervals post-simulation (30' to 240').
• DNA analysis of collected swabs to identify victim genetic material and assess DNA persistence.

Main Results:

• Interpretable victim DNA profiles were obtained from canine buccal swabs as early as 45 minutes after the simulated attack.
• Traces of the reference bovine DNA were detectable in dogs' mouths for up to 150 minutes post-simulation.
• The study suggests that using more sensitive human identification kits could further enhance DNA detection capabilities.

Conclusions:

• Victim DNA can be recovered from a suspected dog's mouth, offering a novel method for identifying the animal involved in an attack.
• The findings provide a timeframe for effective sample collection, with detectable DNA present for at least 150 minutes.
• The forensic community is encouraged to consider and validate this buccal swab technique in real-world casework for improved dog attack investigations.