A novel, comprehensive, and reproducible porcine model for determining the timing of bruises in forensic pathology

Barington, Kristiane; Jensen, Henrik Elvang

doi:10.1007/s12024-016-9744-6

Cited by 20 publications

(27 citation statements)

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“…The variation in the inflammatory response between the two bruises is in accordance with human cases, in which bruises with and without inflammatory changes coexisted although they were known to have been established 30 h or more before death [15]. In addition, the degree of inflammatory changes has been seen to vary between experimental bruises of the same age on the same pig [4]. In the present study, the exact age of the bruises was unknown.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…In approximately half of the slaughter pigs, the bruises had a tram-line pattern similar to the pattern previously described in pigs, cattle and humans beaten with sticks such as broom handles or other wood and metal rods [2, 4, 6, 11–14]. Moreover, in a study from Brazil, bruises in pigs with a rectangular shape were associated to be inflicted by sticks and other solid handling devices when herding the pigs [5].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

“…The age of a bruise was determined as a time interval based on the infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages in the subcutis and muscle tissue, respectively, according to the results from experimental porcine bruises [4]. This was done by combining the age interval given by the neutrophil score together with the age interval given by the macrophage score (Table 1).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The age of bruises was based on the degree of infiltration by neutrophils and macrophages (cell type) in the subcutis and the muscle tissue, respectively [4]. The age of a bruise was stated by combining the age intervals given by the neutrophil score and the macrophage score…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The age determination of the lesions is based on a histological evaluation of skin and underlying muscle tissue [2]. Histological evaluation of skin and underlying muscle tissue is able to determine if bruises are 1 to 3 h or 4 to 10 h old based on experimental bruises in pigs [4]. Estimation of the age of bruises was primarily based on the infiltration of neutrophils in the subcutaneous tissue and of macrophages in the underlying muscle tissue.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Gross and histopathological evaluation of human inflicted bruises in Danish slaughter pigs

et al. 2016

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BackgroundHuman inflicted bruises in slaughter pigs are hampering animal welfare, are an infringement of the animal protection act, and are a focus of public attention. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the gross appearance of human inflicted bruises in slaughter pigs and to compare the inflammatory changes in two lesions as a basis for estimating the age of lesions in the same pig.Pigs with human inflicted bruises slaughtered at two major slaughterhouses in Denmark from November 2013 to May 2014 were evaluated. After slaughter, the bruises were examined grossly and skin and underlying muscle tissue from two similar but separate bruises (a and b) on each pig were sampled for histology.ResultsSkin and muscle tissue from 101 slaughter pigs were subjected to gross evaluation. Eighty-one of these were also subjected to histological evaluation. Most frequently (51 out of 101 pigs, 50 %), bruises had a tram-line pattern due to blunt trauma inflicted with long objects such as sticks. Other bruises reflected the use of tattoo-hammers, plastic paddles, double U profiles and chains. Histological evaluation of two bruises from a pig with multiple lesions was found insufficient to assess the overall age of the lesions as substantial variation in the inflammatory response between bruises was present.ConclusionsGrossly, the pattern of bruises often reflected the shape of the object used for inflicting the lesions. When determining the age of multiple bruises on a pig more than two lesions should be evaluated histologically.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12917-016-0869-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Gross and histopathological evaluation of human inflicted bruises in Danish slaughter pigs

et al. 2016

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Forensic aspects of gene expression signatures for age determination in bruises as evaluated in an experimental porcine model

Barington

Jensen

Skovgaard

2017

Forensic Sci Med Pathol

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Determining the age of bruises and the force used to inflict the trauma is of crucial importance in both human and veterinary forensic pathology. In the present study, the expression of more than 50 different genes in subcutaneous fat and muscle tissue from experimental bruises in pigs was investigated. The aim was to evaluate if expression signatures of selected genes were capable of determining bruises according to age and the force of impact. Eighteen experimental pigs were anesthetized, and on each animal four blunt traumas were inflicted on the back with a low, moderate or high force. The pigs were euthanized from 1 to 10 h after infliction of the trauma and subcutaneous fat and muscle tissues were sampled. As control, subcutaneous fat and muscle tissues were sampled from two un-injured pigs. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to evaluate mRNA expression of genes involved in inflammation, tissue damage and repair. Expression signatures of thirteen selected genes in subcutaneous fat but not in muscle tissue reflected the age of bruises with a precision of approximately ±2 h. Moreover, the gene expression signature in the subcutaneous fat was to some extend able to separate bruises inflicted with different forces. Expression signatures of selected genes in the subcutaneous fat will increase the precision of the age determination of bruises in pigs. Further, due to the similarity of porcine and human skin physiology and immunity, these results might also provide valuable information in human forensic science.

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Histological evaluation of experimental porcine bruises

et al. 2018

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Age estimation is a crucial part of the forensic investigation of bruises in livestock pigs [1], [2], [3]. Currently, age estimations are based on histological evaluation of the lesions in the skin and underlying muscle tissue [2]. However, the intensity of inflammation and tissue damage depends not only on the age of bruises but also on sampling site, anatomical location and the speed, mass and force used to inflict the lesions [1], [4], [5].Twelve experimental slaughter pigs were anesthetized and on each animal, four blunt traumas were inflicted on the back (area of impact Nos. 1–4). The pigs were euthanized at 2, 5 or 8 h after infliction. Skin and underlying muscle tissue were sampled from the center (B) and both ends of bruises (A, C) and evaluated histologically. Descriptive statistics were performed on the data obtained and presented in figures and tables. Differences (odds ratios) between sampling sites (A, B and C), object used to inflict bruises (plastic tube or iron bar), anatomical location (area of impact Nos. 1–4) and bruise age (2, 5 and 8 h) were evaluated using the GENMOD procedure in SAS Enterprise Guide 7.1 and presented in tables. In addition, the agreements (estimated as Cohen׳s kappa) between two observers evaluating the histological parameters were calculated and presented. Data have been further analyzed and discussed in a recent paper [1]

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A novel, comprehensive, and reproducible porcine model for determining the timing of bruises in forensic pathology

Abstract: The model was reproducible and resembled forensic cases of bruises in pigs and humans. Therefore, the histological parameters are suitable for age determination of bruises in pigs and likely also in humans.

Cited by 20 publications

References 33 publications

Gross and histopathological evaluation of human inflicted bruises in Danish slaughter pigs

Gross and histopathological evaluation of human inflicted bruises in Danish slaughter pigs

Forensic aspects of gene expression signatures for age determination in bruises as evaluated in an experimental porcine model

Histological evaluation of experimental porcine bruises

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