Determination of the post-mortem interval (PMI) using insect succession patterns on BALB/c Mice (Mus musculus) cadavers in coastal Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66817/k7chkj79Keywords:
post-mortem interval, forensic entomology, insect succession, decomposition, tropical climate, KenyaAbstract
Accurate estimation of the post-mortem interval (PMI) remains a major challenge in forensic investigations, particularly in regions lacking baseline entomological data. This study investigated decomposition dynamics and arthropod succession patterns on BALB/c mice cadavers in indoor and outdoor environments at the Technical University of Mombasa, Kenya. The aim was to estimate was to estimate post-mortem interval (PMI), in coastal Kenya, a region that lacks baseline entomological data, even though a local newspaper reported extrajudicial killings that resulted in bodies being dumped in the mangrove forests in the coastal regions or near rivers and lakes on the western parts of the country. A prospective longitudinal experimental design was employed using 272g laboratory-bred BALB/c mice exposed under controlled conditions where decomposition stages, insect colonization, and species succession were recorded daily at intervals of 6 hours and statistical analysis was done at 95% significance level with p-value of 0.05. The ten families were found at both indoor and outdoor sites. Major arthropod families observed included Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, Muscidae, Phoridae, Formicidae, Dermestidae and Cleridae, with incidental taxa such as spiders and millipedes. Necrophagous flies dominated early stages, whereas dermestid beetles were more prominent during the late stages of decomposition. The observed successional patterns followed predictable temporal waves corresponding to the different stages of decomposition. These findings provided baseline forensic entomology data for coastal Kenya and demonstrated that insect succession on BALB/c mice can be used to estimate PMI in medico-legal investigations while also highlighting the importance of localized entomological data in improving the accuracy and reliability of postmortem interval (PMI) estimation in tropical environments.
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