Post-mortem rodent scavenging mimicking canine bite injuries on human corpse in Italy

Post-mortem vertebrate scavenging may produce tissue alterations that mimic ante-mortem trauma, representing a potential source of error in forensic interpretation. We report a case of extensive soft tissue loss in the face and the anterior part of the neck of a human corpse, initially attributed to a canine attack. A multidisciplinary approach, including scene investigation, autopsy, and entomological and histological analyses, was applied to determine the origin of the lesions and reconstruct the scene. First-instar larvae of Calliphora vicina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) were collected and used to estimate the minimum post-mortem interval using a thermal summation model, indicating early colonization. Macroscopic examination revealed finely serrated wound margins, parallel superficial striations, and localized tissue removal without punctures, avulsion, or crushing injuries. Histological analysis showed superficial ulceration, dermal homogenization, fragmentation of elastic fibers, and absence of vital reactions, supporting a post-mortem origin of the lesions. The combined evidence excluded canine involvement and identified rodent scavenging as the cause of tissue loss. This case highlights the diagnostic value of entomological, macroscopic and histological data in the correct estimation of time since death (minimum post-mortem interval) and interpretation of post-mortem artifacts.