Impact of Methamphetamine on the Development of the Forensically Important Species Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae)
Abstract
Background: Drugs or poisons can affect the larvae's developmental period in cadavers, leading to variations in the post-mortem interval (PMI) calculation. One of the most misused psychostimulant drugs in Asia and North America, Methamphetamine (MA), is commonly involved in forensic entomotoxicological situations. This study investigated the impact of various MA concentrations on the developmental rate, morphology, and behavior of Lucilia sericata.
Methods: Lucilia sericata was maintained at 28 °C and 50±10% humidity in the Calliphoridae breeding laboratory at the School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Chicken liver substrates with varying concentrations of MA (0, 45, 90, and 180 ng/mg) were used to produce L. sericata eggs. Ten samples were randomly selected from each treatment group for morphological analysis, including weight and size measurements, at each sampling stage (every 12 hours up to 300 hours). With a significance level of p< 0.05, the General Linear Model (GLM) Mixed Model ANOVA was used to compare the data.
Results: The development time of L. sericata was shown to be changed by Methamphetamine concentrations, which decreased by 24 hours at 90 and 180 ng/mg. Compared to the control group, larvae and pupae lengths decreased by 1.22 and 0.7 mm, respectively, at 180 ng/mg. Additionally, the weight of the larvae and pupae in the concentration mentioned above decreased by 7.52 and 7 mg, respectively, in comparison to the control group.
Conclusion: The PMI is estimated incorrectly if the presence of Methamphetamine in the corpse is disregarded.
