Paternity Cases Within a Medicolegal Context: a Case Study of Heteropaternal Superfecundation in Iraq

Abstract

Due to the rarity of heteropaternal superfecundation, this case study serves to highlight the importance of being aware of its occurrence, especially within legal and judicial contexts. Results revealed that the two non-identical twins were from different fathers. A maternity test was performed to test the possibility of switching at birth. Results negated this possibility, and maternity was later confirmed using DNA typing. ‫متباينة‬ ‫أبوة‬

Twins from different fathers: A heteropaternal superfecundation case report in Colombia

“…The difference between the birth weight of twin 1 and twin 2 was remarkable (680 g). This has also been mentioned by other authors (4,10,12,22) and is explained by the different gestational age of the children as a consequence of the time elapsed between one fertilization and the second one (21). Some authors assume that the time between the first and the second fertilization is about three or four days, although this time can be even longer (up to 14 days) (1,5,6).…”

“…Few cases of heteropaternal superfecundation have been reported worldwide possibly because not all the cases have been involved in paternity disputes, which decreases the probability of their reporting (3,5,22). However, the frequency of cases will probably rise with time due to the availability of molecular techniques that serve as a tool for the correct resolution of such cases, as well as the recent increase in twin births (2).…”

“…histocompatibility antigens (8). Today, about 19 heteropaternal superfecundation cases worldwide have been reported (2,4,(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23). It has been suggested that this will cease to be a rare event, as cases are being and will be described more frequently thanks to the current availability of molecular methods and the popularity and increasing number of paternity tests (2)(3)(4)14,22).…”