Action of fauna and flora on the cadaveric phenomena observed in the carcass of sus scrofa (Linnaeus-Suidae) in the wild area Brazilian savannah of the central region-Brazil

Abstract

Decomposition is the process of cadaver degradation into its respective basic constituents by action of biological (microorganisms and arthropods) and abiotic (environmental conditions) agents. The objective was to know the richness, abundance and succession of entomological and fungal species with emphasis on the forensic importance in carcass of Sus scrofa in Brazilian Savannah of the central region Brazil. In this work, samples were collected and the action of biological agents was observed during putrefaction of experimental model. Overall, 5,009 insects specimens were collected, belonging to 3 orders, 15 families, 22 subfamilies, 39 genera and 47 species. Diptera was the most representative order, with 2,848 individuals (56.9%), followed by Hymenoptera with 1,628 (32.5%) and Coleoptera with 533 (10.6%). Diptera were present in all phases of cadaveric decomposition, of which, the butyric fermentation phase was the most relevant (26.6%). Hymenoptera were also present in the butyric fermentation phase (15.8%) and Coleoptera were present in the final phase of decomposition (7.8%). Regarding fungi, 223 specimens were isolated. Four orders of filamentous fungi were identified: Eurotiales (44.4%), Mucorales (14.8%), Hypocreales (8.1%), emphasizing the presence of Aspergillus terreus. Among yeasts, the order Saccharomycetales (9.9%), represented by the genera Candida, Rodothorula and Pichia, and the order Tremellales (1.3%), represented by the Trichosporon genus, and were isolated. These microbiological entities were collected during all phases of cadaveric phenomena, highlighting the active decay period, when 26% of CFU's were obtained. The skin was the anatomic site with the highest number of isolations (22.4%), followed by genital and perianal mucosa (17.5%), respectively. This study, which comprises the cadaveric biota, is extremely important as an elucidation tool. Forensic mycology is a rich field, where fungi can Interact and provide information, promoting the study of time of death in forensic cases.