The Effect of Different Coverings on Total Body Score Development of Buried Carcasses - PubMed
The Effect of Different Coverings on Total Body Score Development of Buried Carcasses
Chee Hau Teo et al. Malays J Med Sci. 2021 Aug.
Abstract
Background: Examination of post-mortem changes is one of the ways to assess decomposition process on buried bodies. Nonetheless, studies on such assessment are still lacking, especially on the effects of body coverings by different materials in burial conditions. The aim of this research is to study the effect of different types of covering towards decomposition on buried rabbit carcasses by using Total Body Score (TBS) system.
Methods: Twenty-seven rabbit carcasses were divided into: (i) No Clothing; (ii) Thick Clothing and (iii) Plastic Wrapping groups, and buried into individual shallow graves. One subject was exhumed from first to ninth post-burial week and assessed by using TBS system.
Results and discussion: There are significant differences among TBS between different coverings while controlling the time factor, F (2, 23) = 4.80, P < 0.05, partial η 2 = 0.294. TBS score for Plastic Wrapping group is significantly lower than No Clothing group over times at α = 0.05, P < 0.05. The slightly delaying effect of thick clothing is caused by design of jacket, which allows arthropods access and microbial activity. Relatively strong delaying effect by plastic covering could be caused by impermeable property that caused accumulation of decompositional products and slow down the degradation.
Conclusion: In conclusion, TBS system is a potential tool in describing rate of decomposition for buried cases in Malaysia.
Keywords: Plastic Wrapping; Thick Clothing; Total Body Score; burial condition; decomposition; post-mortem changes.
© Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2021.
Conflict of interest statement
Conflict of Interest None.
Figures
Development of TBS against the number of post-burial weeks Note: TBS of each subject is the sum of score from three body parts
Similar articles
-
Post mortem changes in relation to different types of clothing.
Teo CH, Pawita AH, Khairul O, Atiah Ayunni AG, Noor Hazfalinda H. Teo CH, et al. Malays J Pathol. 2013 Jun;35(1):77-85. Malays J Pathol. 2013. PMID: 23817398
-
The effect of soil texture on the degradation of textiles associated with buried bodies.
Lowe AC, Beresford DV, Carter DO, Gaspari F, O'Brien RC, Stuart BH, Forbes SL. Lowe AC, et al. Forensic Sci Int. 2013 Sep 10;231(1-3):331-9. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2013.05.037. Epub 2013 Jul 10. Forensic Sci Int. 2013. PMID: 23890657
-
A preliminary examination of differential decomposition patterns in mass graves.
Troutman L, Moffatt C, Simmons T. Troutman L, et al. J Forensic Sci. 2014 May;59(3):621-6. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.12388. Epub 2014 Feb 6. J Forensic Sci. 2014. PMID: 24502774
-
Decomposition of buried corpses, with special reference to the formation of adipocere.
Fiedler S, Graw M. Fiedler S, et al. Naturwissenschaften. 2003 Jul;90(7):291-300. doi: 10.1007/s00114-003-0437-0. Epub 2003 Jun 26. Naturwissenschaften. 2003. PMID: 12883770 Review.
-
Determination of post-burial interval using entomology: A review.
Singh R, Sharma S, Sharma A. Singh R, et al. J Forensic Leg Med. 2016 Aug;42:37-40. doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2016.05.004. Epub 2016 May 12. J Forensic Leg Med. 2016. PMID: 27235895 Review.
Cited by
-
Tambuzzi S, Gentile G, Zoja R. Tambuzzi S, et al. Int J Legal Med. 2023 Jul;137(4):1309-1310. doi: 10.1007/s00414-023-03002-4. Epub 2023 Apr 21. Int J Legal Med. 2023. PMID: 37083864 No abstract available.
-
Carter DO, Orimoto A, Gutierrez CA, Ribéreau-Gayon A, Pecsi EL, Perrault KA, Peterson AJL. Carter DO, et al. Forensic Sci Int Synerg. 2023 Aug 8;7:100345. doi: 10.1016/j.fsisyn.2023.100345. eCollection 2023. Forensic Sci Int Synerg. 2023. PMID: 37609572 Free PMC article.
-
Insect Colonisation and the Decomposition Process in Aerated versus Watertight Burial Systems.
Defilippo F, Munari M, Grisendi A, Gaudio RM, D'Incau M, Lavazza A, Rubini S. Defilippo F, et al. Insects. 2023 Jun 19;14(6):566. doi: 10.3390/insects14060566. Insects. 2023. PMID: 37367382 Free PMC article.
References
-
- Parsons HR. The postmortem interval: a systematic study of pig decomposition in West Central Montana [Graduate’s thesis] Montana State University; 2009.
-
- Stokes KL, Forbes SL, Tibbett M. Freezing skeletal muscle tissue does not affect its decomposition in soil: evidence from temporal changes in tissue mass, microbial activity and soil chemistry based on excised samples. Forensic Sci Int. 2009;183(1):6–13. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2008.08.013. - DOI - PubMed
-
- Mcquinn BC. Impact of embalming and burial on decomposition rates and diffusion of volatile fatty acids in Kentucky [Master’s thesis] Eastern Kentucky University; 2011.
-
- Sasidharan A. Forensic taphonomy: an overview. Journal of South India Medicolegal Association. 2012;4(1):19–27. Available at: http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84858645645&partnerID....
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources