Effect of Terbufos (Organophosphate) on the Cadaveric Colonization Process: Implications for Postmortem Interval...

Area of Science:

• Forensic Entomology
• Toxicology
• Ecology

Background:

• Estimating the postmortem interval (PMI) often relies on the developmental stages of necrophagous flies.
• Pesticides and chemicals can interfere with insect development, compromising PMI accuracy.
• Organophosphate pesticides are widely used and can potentially enter the environment through various means.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of Terbufos, an organophosphate pesticide, on the development and dispersion patterns of immature dipterans on decaying carcasses.
• To assess how different doses of Terbufos affect the life cycle of forensically relevant fly species.
• To understand the implications of Terbufos exposure for postmortem interval (PMI) estimation in forensic science.

Main Methods:

• Wistar rats were administered varying doses of Terbufos (5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg) or a control (distilled water).
• Carcasses were exposed to environmental conditions, and dispersing immatures were collected daily.
• Development time of collected immatures was monitored until adult fly emergence.

Main Results:

• Terbufos significantly altered the temporal dispersion patterns of fly larvae.
• The composition and structure of the adult fly assemblage (emerged flies) were affected by Terbufos exposure.
• Terbufos influenced species' development times, either accelerating or delaying their life cycles depending on the dose.
• Increased pupal mortality was observed in carcasses exposed to Terbufos, impacting the emergence rate of calliphorids and sarcophagids.

Conclusions:

• Terbufos directly affects the development of forensically important fly species.
• The findings highlight the potential for Terbufos contamination to introduce errors in postmortem interval (PMI) estimations.
• This research provides experimental evidence crucial for forensic investigations involving suspected Terbufos poisoning.