Determination of drug levels and the effect of diazepam on the growth of necrophagous flies of forensic importance in southeastern Brazil

Post-embriononic development of Chrysomya putoria(Diptera: Calliphoridae) on a diet containing ampicillin in different concentrations

“…This pathology is caused by species of the Calliphoridae family, mainly C. putoria, which has scavenger/necrophagic behaviour and develops in dead tissues (corpses) or necrotic wounds of living hosts (Guimaraes and Pavavero 1999). It is known that certain chemicals and hormones exert a deleterious effect on insect development (Carvalho et al 2001, 2012, Liu et al 2009, Gosselin et al 2011. However, the effect of antibiotics such as ampicillin on the development of fl y larvae remains unknown.…”

“…To evaluate the effects of different substances on fly development, many authors have used guinea pig tissues (Carvalho et al 2001, George et al 2009, Liu et al 2009) in addition to natural diet along with the substance to be tested (Grella et al 2007, Parry et al 2011. However, artifi cial diets can be used to homogeneously introduce substances in treatments, dispensing with the need for cobaios, which are expensive to handle (Soto 2008).…”

“…Many substances as drugs, or their metabolites, can affect the development of arthropods of forensic importance when present in the cadavers that they colonize (Introna et al 2001). Substances such as scopolamine, buscopan, malathion, diazepam and methadone decrease the development rate of insects (Carvalho et al 2001, 2012, Grella et al 2007, Liu et al 2009, Gosselin et al 2011. In addition, increased larval development was observed when insects were exposed to heroin, methamphetamine, codeine and paracetamol (Goff et al 1991, Carvalho et al 2004, O`Brien and Turner 2004.…”

“…Insects can even be used as an alternative method for the detection of toxic substances because they do not always metabolize the drugs they ingest, leaving traces that can be detected long after the death of an organism (Hédouin et al 1999, Introna et al 2001, Carvalho et al 2001, El-bar and Sawaby 2011.…”

Malignant tumor affects the developmental pattern of feeding larvae of Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) and Chrysomya putoria (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

“…however, recent studies using both flesh flies (Sarcophagidae) and blow flies (Calliphoridae) reared on tissues containing drugs of abuse and illicit substances have demonstrated departures from the expected patterns of development (Introna et al 1990, Goff et al 1992, hedouin et al 1999. The presence of these substances in tissues used as food source can either accelerate or retard rates of larval development and thus influence the estimate of the time since death , Carvalho et al 2001b). …”