Biodiversity study of arthropods collected on rat carrion in Yaounde, Cameroon: first study on forensic entomology in Central Africa

Paper Details

Research Paper 01/01/2012
Views (628) Download (16)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

Biodiversity study of arthropods collected on rat carrion in Yaounde, Cameroon: first study on forensic entomology in Central Africa

Feugang Youmessi Francis Dupont, Bilong Bilong Charles Félix, Cherix Daniel, Djiéto-Lordon Champlain
Int. J. Biosci.2( 1), 1-8, January 2012.
Certificate: IJB 2012 [Generate Certificate]

Abstract

The first investigation of arthropods associated with carrion in Cameroon was carried out within the campus of the University of Yaounde I (Cameroon) from 17thJanuary to 3rd April 2008. Carcasses of rats (Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout, 1769 var WISTAR) were exposed to colonization by the local fauna of arthropods. The invading organisms were collected daily during the study period. 2287 individuals of arthropod belonging to 3 classes, 16 orders, 37 families and 7 subfamilies were identified. The insects assessed were mainly Diptera, Coleoptera and Acari. This study illustrates the high diversity of the necroentomofauna in Cameroon and provides an insight approximation into the succession pattern of invading insect and a weekly estimation of the time of death.

VIEWS 37

Amendt J, Campobasso PC, Gaudry E, Reiter C, Leblanc NH , Hall RJM. 2006. Best practise in forensic entomology-standards and guidelines. Int. J. legal Med. 121, 90-104.

Anderson G, VanLaerhoven SL. 1996. Initial studies on insect succession on carrion in Southwestern British Columbia. J. Forensic Sci. 41, 617-625.

Anderson GS. 2000. Minimum and maximum development rates of some forensically important Calliphoridae (Diptera). J. Forensic Sci. 45, 824-832.

Anderson GS, Sherah V. 1996. Initial studies on insect succession on carrion in Southwestern British Columbia. J. Forensic Sci. 41, 617-625.

Benecke M. 2002. Les insectes judiciaires. Pour démasquer certains criminels, on étudie les insects qui envahissent les cadavres. Ceux-ci agissent selonune chronologie bien définie : ils indiquent le déroulement de l’action et l’heure de la mort. Pour la science 296, 76-83.

Bharti M, Singh D. 2003. Insect faunal succession on decaying rabbit carcasses in Punjab, India. J. Forensic Sci. 5, 1-11.

Braack LEO. 1981. Visitation patterns of principal species of the insect-complex at carcasses in the Kruger national park. Koedoe 24, 33-49.

Braack LEO. 1987. Community dynamics of carrion- attendant arthropods in tropical African woodland. Oecologia 72, 402-409.

Catts EP , Goff ML. 1992. Forensic entomology in criminal investigations. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 37, 253-272.

Catts EP, Haskell NH. 1990. Entomology and death: a procedural guide. In: Joyce’s Print Shop Inc., Clemson, South California, p. 182.

Claudio JBC, Cátia MP. 2008. Key to the adults of the most common forensic species of diptera in South America. Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 52, 390-406.

Couri SM. 2007. A key to the Afrotropical genera of Muscidae (Diptera). Revista Brasileira de Zoologia 24, 175-184.

Delvare G, Alberlenc HP. 1989. Les insects d’Afrique et d’Amérique. Clés pour la reconnaissance des familles. CIRAD, France (eds). p. 297.

Gaudry E, Dourel L, Chauvet B, Vincent B, Pasquerault T. 2007. L’entomologie légale : lorsque Insecte rime avec Indice, Revue Francophone des Laboratoires 392, 23-32.

Goff L, Miller M, Paulson JD, Lord WD, Richards E, Amori AI. 1997. Effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine in decomposing tissues on the development of Parasarcophaga ruficornis (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) and detection of the drug in post-mortem blood, liver tissue, larvae and puparia. J. Forensic Sci. 42, 276-280.

Kelly JA, Van DL, Anderson GS. 2009. The influence of clothing and wrapping on carcass decomposition and arthropod succession: a winter study in central South Africa. Can. Soc. Forensic Sci. J. 41, 135-147.

Mansfield N. 2003. An overview of the main uses of forensic entomology in criminal proceedings and the various environmental factors that must be taken into consideration. http://www.benecke.com/nathalie.html.1-12

Martinez E, Duque P, Wolff M. 2007. Succession pattern of carrion-feeding insects in Paramo, Colombia. Forensic Science International 166, 182-189.

Miras A, Fanton L, Tilhet-Coartet S, Malicier D. 1998. La datation de la mort. In ESKA (eds): La levee de corps médico-légale p. 32-70.

Moretti TDeC, Ribeiro OB, Thyssen PJ, Solis DR. 2008. Insects on decomposing carcasses of small rodents in a secondary forest in Southeastern Brazil, Eur. J. Entomol. 105, 691-696.

Okiwelu SN, Ikpamii T, Umeozor OC. 2008. Arthropods Associated with Mammalian Carcasses in Rivers State, Nigeria. African Journal of Biomedical Research 11, 339-42.

Prins AJ. 1982. Morphological and biological notes on six South African Blow-flies (Diptera, Calliphoridae) and their immature stages. Ann.S.Afr.Mus. 90, 201-217.

Regina MC. 2002. Identification key to the common forensically important adult flies (Diptera) of Northen Kentucky. http://www.nku.edu./biosci/courses degree/forensic fly key/homepage.htm

Smith KGV. 1986. A manual of forensic entomology. New York: Cornel University Press, 205p.

Suchel JB. 1987. Les climats du Cameroun. Thèse Doc. D’état ès sciences Univ. St. Etienne 1. p. 185.

Sukontason K, Sukontason KL, Piangjai S, Tippanun J, Lertthamnongtham S, Vogtsberger RC, and Olson JK. 2003. Survey of forensically-relevant fly species in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. Journal of Vector Ecology 6,135-136.

Tullis K, Goff ML. 1987. Arthropod succession in exposed carrion in a tropical rainforest on O’ahu Island, Hawaii. J. Med. Entomol 24, 332-339.

Velásquez Y. 2008. A checklist of arthropods associated with rat carrion in a mountain locality of northern Venezuela. Forensic Science International 174, 67–69.

Williams KA, Villet MH. 2006. A history of southern African research relevant to forensic entomology. South African Journal of Science 102, 59-65.

Wolff M, Uribe A, Ortiz A, Duque P. 2001. A preliminary study of forensic entomology in Medellίn. Colombia. Forensic Sci. Int. 120, 53-59.

Wyss C, Cherix D. 2006. Les insectes sur la scène du crime. Traite de l’entomologie forensique. p. 328.