Responses of Carrion Insects to Gammalin - 20 Poisoning. A Forensics Crime Evaluation Using Euthanized Pigs

Scientific Study from the year 2023 in the subject Biology - Miscellaneous, grade: A, University of Ibadan, language: English, abstract: Forensic entomotoxicological appraisal of carrion insects found on pigs poisoned with Gammalin-20 was carried out at the back of the stadium on the campus of the University of Ibadan. A total of three 3-month old domestic pigs, Sus scrofa L., weighing between 10.5 and 11.3 kg were used as surrogate human models. Two pigs were euthanized with Gammalin-20 by administering 180 ml and 200 ml separately, while the third one was sacrificed without any poison and served as the control experiment. After death was confirmed, each pig was immediately mounted on sawdust and setup at about 50 m apart to allow for arthropod colonization without cross migration, thereby representing three different replicates of the same study. The pigs were left to decompose, and it was discovered that there were five phases of decomposition namely: fresh, bloated, active, advanced and dry decay stages. The decomposition process of the carrions took twenty days in the control experiment and thirty-four days in those treated with Gammalin-20. Four families of flies were found (Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, Muscidae and Dermestidae) and seven species (Chrysomya abiceps, Chrysomya regalis, Sarcophaga spp, Phormia regina, Lucilia sericata, Dermestes maculatus and Musca domestica). Their activities on the carrions included consumption of the carrion tissues and using same to propagate their progeny. Calliphoridae was observed to be the most dominant family in nearly all the stages of decomposition with 108 individuals, followed by the Sarcophagidae with 98 individuals, the Muscidae with 85 individuals and the Dermestidae with 10 individuals. Flies found on the carrions were collected with a sweep net and preserved in 70% ethanol for identification. The succession pattern of the flies, their abundance, rate of development, effects of the poison on the developmental pattern were all determined. Warning: Contains images of dead and decomposing animals (pp. 41-45).

Emmanuel Tyokumbur was born on Wednesday 18th March 1970 in Vandeikya Benue State of Nigeria. He attended Roman Catholic Mission Primary School Ugye, Mbagbera, VANDEIKYA between 1976 to 1983. Thereafter, he attended Saint Peter's Secondary School Vandeikya and passed out in flying colours. He got his Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from the University of Jos, Nigeria in 1992. After teaching at Wilson College Kaduna for six years, he proceeded to the University of Ibadan, Nigeria for his Master's Degree in Ecology and Environmental Biology and graduated with a PhD Grade in 1998. He started his lecturing career as an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria in 2000 and has been on this job since then. He is about completing a PhD program in Forensics. He has over 50 publications to his credit in reputable international journals. He has supervised many undergraduate projects, won several grants and awards. His academic career has taken him to several countries in Africa, America and Europe.He likes reading, writing and walking.