Effects of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine in Decomposing Tissues on the Development of Parasarcophaga ruficornis (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) and Detection of the Drug in Postmortem Blood, Liver Tissue, Larvae, and Puparia

Abstract

Larvae of Parasarcophaga ruficornis (Fabricius) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) were reared on tissues from rabbits administered different dosages of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine to study the effects of this drug on the development of this insect species. The rabbits were given 11, 22.5, and 67 mg of the drug via ear vein infusion. These dosages correspond to a 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 median lethal dose. Larvae from colonies fed on tissues from the rabbit receiving 67 mg and the control developed more rapidly from hours 24 through 114. The period required for completion of larval development was significantly shorter for the larvae from the colony fed on liver tissues from the rabbit receiving the 67 mg dosage. This colony also had the lowest total mortality rate during development. No significant differences were observed among the colonies in the duration of the puparial period. Analyses by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry of the larvae and empty puparial cases following base extraction detected the drug in quantities directly related to the dosage of the drug administered to the rabbits serving as a food source. These results have implications for the determination of time since death when gaged by the development of this insect species.

A review on the effects of heavy metals on the development of blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

“…The detection and quantification of drugs or any foreign substance present in a corpse can be performed by analyzing the insects that are feeding on it (Pounder, 1991); indeed, they represent a reliable matrix for toxicology analyses and an increasing number of forensic toxicology laboratories are conducting routine analyses on entomological samples (Lei et al, 2019). Moreover, forensic entomotoxicology evaluates the effects that certain chemicals may have on the development and anatomy of insects (Bourel et al, 1999;Goff et al, 1989Goff et al, , 1992Goff et al, , 1993Goff et al, , 1994Goff et al, , 1997Gunatilake & Goff, 1989). Any xenobiotic-including heavy metals-that are present in the carrion may be transferred to the insects that feed on it and can potentially influence their behavior and development (Chophi et al, 2019).…”

Effect of thiamethoxam (organophosphate) on the flies and beetle visitation and cadaveric decomposition process

“…However, studies have shown that when these insects feed on resources contaminated by toxic substances, various aspects of their life cycles, including the duration time can be changed (Zou et al, 2013;Trivia and Carvalho-Pinto, 2018), thus hindering the conclusions of the expertise (Yan-Wei et al, 2010). Indeed, studies such as Carvalho (2004) and Goff et al (1997) show that fly larvae used in forensic entomology present in substrate contaminated with licit and illicit drugs have their life cycle accelerated or delayed, depending on the substance, in addition to changes in the weight of immatures and thereby affect the cadaveric decomposition process.…”

Determination of Asenapine Maleate from Maggots by Solid-Phase Extraction and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy

“…which sometimes increase or inhibit their development. [9][10][11][12][13][14] The larvae of calliphorid family and others show a great power of acceptance for drugs and drug induced tissues containing high dose of morphine, 15 barbiturates, 9 and amitriptyline, 16 in a dose which is considered lethal for an adult human. Significant development has occurred in the field of forensic entomotoxicology.…”