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PubMed1978

Survival of protoscolices of Echinococcus granulosus at constant temperatures.

A study was conducted to determine the effects of storage at constant temperatures upon the survival of protoscolices of Echinococcus granulosus from hydatid cysts removed from infected sheep. Parallel tests were conducted on intact cysts from both lung and liver, and on protoscolices stored within 1-ml samples of hydatid fluid. The longest survival times of any of the samples tested at each temperature were: -20 C, 1 hr; -10 C, 4 hr; 1 C, 16 days; 10 C, 16 days; 20 C, 8 days; 30 C, 4 days; 40 C, 2 days, and 50 C, 2 hr. In general, protoscolices survived considerably better when stored within intact cysts than when in 1 ml of hydatid fluid. At temperature ranges where putrefaction occurred, protoscolices in cysts from lung survived longer than those from liver. The ability of these protoscolices to survive extended periods of time after an infected sheep has died or been killed suggests that stringent preventive and control measures should be established in areas where hydatid disease is endemic. Animal pits at community dumping grounds where sheep carcasses might be discarded should be enclosed or covered, and all stray and roving dogs in those regions should be rigidly controlled.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Unusual disposal of cadavers. Report on 2 cases].

Report on two cases of removal of corpses. Case 1: A human skeleton and lumps of adipocere were found in a liquid manure pit as the remains of a 49 years old male. The identity of the person could be proved by the results of the odontological examination. In two ribs we found small holes; they could be qualified as gun-shot injuries due to the results of morphological, chemical and radiological investigations. This made it possible to determine the line of the gun-shot within the body and the cause of death. The bullet (with the calibre .22) was detected in a lump of adipocere. It allowed the identification of the weapon, and this lead to the confession of a 74 year old man as the murderer. The crime had been committed 1 1/2 years ahead the discovery of the corpse. Case 2: A prostitute has been missed for about 2 years. Her nude corpse was found in a deep-freezer, which was still working. The corpse was well preserved beside few alterations of beginning putrefaction; this process was stopped by deep-freezing. The woman was killed by gun-shot into the neck. The bullet was still in the corpse, which allowed to prove the identity of the weapon as well as the murderer. He had committed suicide 9 months earlier than the cadaver has been discovered.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Disposal of the corpse by cement encapsulation and submersion in water].

The paper reports on a remarkable case of corpse disposal. A 32-year-old inmate of a prison with the permission to go out on weekends had disappeared since 1 1/4 years. His corpse poured in a concrete block was found in a metal-drum having been sunk in a disused part of a river. Although formation of adipocere and putrefaction was found, the corpse was in a relatively good status of conservation. The man had been killed by a punch of a forked crowbar on his head.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

[The ABO group system in tissues in advanced post-mortem changes].

Post-mortem changes and in particular putrefaction makes examination of the group properties of the ABO system in tissues difficult and even more so the interpretation of results. Hitherto traditionally used serological methods, i.e. the absorption elution test and the saturation method, do not always provide sufficient data for a final evaluation. The quoted examples from practice are in favour of a combination of the traditional serological approach (absorption elution test) and the immunohistological technique (indirect immunoperoxidase reaction).

ABO Blood-Group System↗

PubMed1994

[Validity of postmortem alcohol determination].

The aim of this study was to establish the confidence interval for the determination of alcohol in post-mortem material. The calculations in the study concern cases in which two blood samples had been taken from a dead body with the purpose of determining alcohol content of the blood. The confidence interval (calculated as twice the standard deviation) was found to be 0.50 per thousand. The study confirms the previously established slight decrease in the concentration of alcohol in the blood during the first hours after death. No post-mortem alcohol production was found to have taken place during the first 24 hours (approx.) if the body had been kept at a low temperature. It is concluded that a confidence interval of 0.50 per thousand should be applied in the evaluation of post-mortem alcohol determination. In cases of visible putrefaction of a corpse an individual assessment must be made.

Autopsy↗

PubMed1993

Differentiation of discolouration in a body by an erythrocyte membrane component, glycophorin A.

In a differential study to distinguish antemortem bruise from postmortem infiltration of haemoglobin on the skin, a component of erythrocyte membrane, glycophorin A was extracted from experimental bruise and haemoglobin infiltration lesions over set periods of time. This extraction was accomplished by utilising anti-glycophorin A serum, after which the difference between the two lesions was evaluated. The glycophorin A was recovered from the bruise lesions satisfactorily up to the ninth to twelfth days and showed good resistance to putrefaction. In contrast, no glycophorin A was detected in haemoglobin infiltration lesions taken at any time. Glycophorin A was also detectable in human vital bruises which were taken in autopsies of four hours to ten days postmortem. These results suggest that a differential diagnosis of antemortem bruise and postmortem haemoglobin infiltration is possible in advanced stages of death.

Autopsy↗

PubMed1993

Interpretation of low postmortem concentrations of ethanol.

The interpretation of postmortem blood ethanol concentrations (BAC), especially those less than 0.05 g/dL can be complicated by postmortem ethanol formation. One method used by the toxicologist to respond to this possibility is to analyze multiple specimens for ethanol. Two useful specimens to analyze are vitreous humor and urine, because they are less susceptible to the putrefaction process. A negative vitreous humor and/or urine ethanol would suggest that the measured ethanol resulted from postmortem formation. Data were collected from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of Maryland and the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology on blood specimens with ethanol concentrations less than 0.05 g/dL to develop a reasonable threshold for interpretation in the absence of other specimens. A total of 381 cases with a BAC between 0.01 and 0.04 g/dL were studied over a 2 year period. Urine and vitreous humor specimens were tested where available. At a BAC of 0.01 g/dL, 54% of the cases were associated with a positive vitreous humor and/or urine ethanol concentration. This percentage increased to 63% when BAC equals 0.02 g/dL. Seventy-three percent and 92% of the cases had a positive alternate specimen if the BAC was 0.03 g/dL and 0.04 g/dL, respectively. In addition, 90% of the cases where both vitreous humor and urine were analyzed showed consistent results, that is both specimens were positive or negative. This suggests that in the absence of additional information, a BAC of 0.04 g/dL or higher probably resulted from ethanol consumption.

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Assay of biogenic amines involved in fish decomposition.

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method is described for quantitative determination of putrefaction amines: putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, spermidine, and spermine. These amines are extracted from fish by grinding with perchloric acid at -20 degrees C. The amines are reacted with dansyl chloride at alkaline pH, dried under a stream of nitrogen, placed in an automatic injector at -20 degrees C, and separated in a Kromasil C18 reversed-phase column at 25 degrees C. A new gradient elutes the amines in 22 min and regenerates the column in 30 min. Regression lines are obtained with high coefficients of correlation. This method is faster and more reproducible than other methods and shows that the quality index is a reliable, albeit species-specific, criterion of fish decomposition.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

An autopsy case of abandoned infant body with severe destruction.

One case of infanticide and abandonment by the natural mother is presented. The body was extensively damaged, evidently by a fox. Fortunately, since the body showed less advanced putrefaction due to cold weather, it was possible to narrow down the cause of death and to detect the drug which had been forced down the victim's throat before the crime. However, our estimates of age and postmortem interval were erroneous. We comment as to why we were misled. Pathological problems associated with "aspiration of vomitus" are also discussed.

Age Determination by Teeth↗

PubMed1996

Postmortem stability of cocaine and cocaethylene in blood and tissues of humans and rabbits.

A study was conducted to examine the postmortem stability of cocaine and cocaethylene in rabbit blood and tissues, and to determine whether cocaethylene is produced in decomposed human specimens containing cocaine and endogenous ethanol. Heart blood, liver, brain and femoral muscle taken from rabbits 20 min after oral administration of 20 mg/kg cocaine together with 2 g/kg ethanol were kept at 20-25 degrees C for 5 days. Cocaine and cocaethylene concentrations were in the order brain > liver > muscle > blood, and showed very large intersubject variations at the time of death. Cocaine was degraded rapidly in the blood and liver. However, 12.0 +/- 8.5% and 26.2% +/- 19.4% of the original cocaine was still detectable in the brain and muscle, respectively. Cocaethylene was degraded more slowly than cocaine in all of the specimens. The pH of the blood remained around 7.4 during a 5-day period; all the other specimens showed pH values of 6.2-6.7 on and after the first day postmortem. When 10,000 ng/g cocaine was incubated with decomposed human blood, liver, brain and muscle homogenates containing 0.29-0.60 mg/g endogenous ethanol at 20-25 degrees C and 37 degrees C, no change in cocaine concentration was observed during the study period of 24 h, and no cocaethylene was detected. The pH values of the homogenates were within the range 4.2 to 5.2 at the beginning of the experiment. It was found that: 1) cocaethylene was more stable in postmortem specimens than cocaine; 2) muscle as well as brain was specimen of choice for detecting cocaine and cocaethylene postmortem; 3) cocaine was resistant to decomposition under acidic conditions; and 4) putrefactive bacteria had no ability to produce cocaethylene even in the presence of cocaine and endogenous ethanol.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Cadaver lipid: various origins add to the difficulty of assessing postmortem time].

Establishing the length of time since death is particularly difficult in corpses showing advanced putrefaction. One particular sign of advanced decay is the formation of adipocere, as observed mainly in drowned bodies or following a long period of storage under airtight conditions. During storage in an open, damp environment (e.g. water) the formation of adiopocere becomes visible after approximately 3-6 months and can be found in more extensive form after approximately one year. In this state bodies show evidence of a partly waxlike and partly pasty condition. Continued storage ultimately results, among other things, in further decomposition due to the action of microorganisms from the surrounding area-even if this is chronologically delayed. An exception is provided by the formation of adipocere under air-tight conditions (e.g. wrapped in plastic material or in mass graves). Initially autolysis and heterolysis also occur, involving the release of fatty acids from the lipids produced naturally in the body. As a result of the subsequent hydrogenation of the fats by the action of bacterial enzymes, the unsaturated fatty acids are partially converted into saturated fatty acids. As the fatty acids released in large quantities during adipocere formation clearly have a bactericidal effect, further bacterial decomposition is stopped at this early adipocere stage. Additional microorganisms from outside can no longer infiltrate when this hermetic seal is in place. In addition, the lack of calcium (e.g. from water or moist earth) can be a reason for the fact that further adipocere development, leading to wax-like hardening of the fat, is arrested. The soft parts of the body retain a soft, viscous consistency. Thus the condition of the body can remain constantly preserved over many years and no longer allows a reliable estimate to be made of the period of time since death.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

PubMed1996

Brucellosis surveillance and control in Zimbabwe: bacteriological and serological investigation in dairy herds.

Brucellosis in dairy cattle is endemic in Zimbabwe. The prevalence continues to be monitored intensively. Only milk and serum samples are routinely screened. Attempts to culture Brucella spp. from clinical specimens are seldom made. Consequently, incidence of various Brucella spp. within Zimbabwe is virtually unknown, despite the high serepositivity reported. This information is paramount in understanding the transmission cycle and is also significant to public health; particularly as B melitensis infects humans more often than do the other brucellae. This paper describes the results of bacteriological and serological investigations of brucellosis in a dairy from near Bulawayo. The said farm was selected for the present pilot study because of the high incidence of reported abortion. The milk ring test was employed to test the bulk pooled milk samples once a month for 14 months. The test was recorded highly positive on all 14 occasions. To locate reactors, milk samples from 36 individual cows were similarly tested. Of these, 21 (almost 59%) were found to be reacting positively. One hundred and seventy-seven animals were marked for serotesting. Of these 40 (approximately 25%) showed quite high serum titres (> 1:360) in both the STT and the Rosebengal test. The farmer was advised to havet all abortions full investigated. However, all the clinical material from cases of abortion, except one, were received in an advanced state of putrefaction. From this, Brucella was isolated on culture from stomach contents and cotyledons. The isolates from both the sites were characterized in detail, employing dye inhibition, phagetyping; the oxidative metabolic test and agglutination with monospecific sera. Both the isolates belonged to B. abortus biovar I, which was confirmed by the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Weybridge. The significance of isolation and the need to intensify similar studies have been discussed.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The development of the conditions for the direct gas chromatographic determination of ethyl alcohol in cadaveric material].

Conditions for direct gas chromatographic analysis of ethyl alcohol using a device with flame ionization detector have been developed. The presence of other C1-C5 alcohols or alcohol surrogates (acetone, aromatic carbohydrates, organochlorine compounds) did not impede ethanol measurement. Comparison of the accuracy and reproducibility of the routine ethylnitrite and the new direct gas chromatographic analyses showed that the two methods are similar by their metrological parameters and time needed for the measurement. At the same time, use of direct (without ethanol derivation) analysis helps eliminate the contamination of the working area with harmful gases, including nitrogen oxide and alkylnitrites. The above methods of analysis were used with various objects of expert evaluation, including putrescent organs and tissues. Putrefaction products did not influence the accuracy and reproducibility of ethanol measurement.

Cadaver↗

PubMed1996

Halitosis. A common oral problem.

Halitosis is caused primarily by bacterial putrefaction and the generation of volatile sulfur compounds. Ninety percent of patients suffering from halitosis have oral causes, such as poor oral hygiene, periodontal disease, tongue coat, food impaction, unclean dentures, faulty restorations, oral carcinomas, and throat infections. The remaining 10 percent of halitosis sufferers have systemic causes that include renal or hepatic failure, carcinomas, diabetes or trimethylaminuria. Modern analytical and microbiological techniques permit diagnosis of bad breath. Management of halitosis involves maintaining proper oral hygiene, and periodontal treatment, including tongue brushing.

Bacteria↗

PubMed1977

The formation of 2-hydroxymethylquinoline and quinaldine in greyhound urine.

2-Hydroxymethylquinoline and quinaldine are found in nonfresh greyhound urine as putrefactive bases. Their production as a function of time was investigated. This is affected by preservatives or refrigeration. 2-Hydroxymethylquinoline forms in greyhound urine, if non-preserved, in three or four days at room temperature while quinaldine takes as much as 10 days longer to form. Production of 2-hydroxymethylquinoline or quinaldine is not arrested but merely retarded by preservation or refrigeration. Sodium fluoride is one of the more effective preservatives. A method for the measurement of quinaldine and 2-hydroxymethylquinoline using gas chromatography is described. The columns used are Carbowax 6000 + potassium hydroxide on Chromosorb G and SE-30 on Chromosorb W.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

[The level of alcohol and titre of A and B group substances of the ABO system in blood samples infected by some strains of Escherichia coli].

Evaluating the results of sectional blood examinations for ethyl alcohol content is difficult due to the proceeding putrid and fermentative processes, in consequence of which endogenic ethyl alcohol is produced. Some difficulties also arise from estimating the results of serological investigations concerning the biological traces having been changed by putrefaction, where the presence of heterogenic antigens may be suspected. The putrid-fermentative processes are linked with the activity of microorganisms, particularly bacteria and yeast-like fungi. The first part of the paper deals with the bacterial flora in 50 sectional blood samples taken for routine determinations of ethyl alcohol content, thus with added sodium fluoride as bacteriostatic agent. The identification of the microorganisms cultured on differentiating and selectively differentiating media was carried out on the basis of the culture appearance, specimens stained by Gram's method, as well as biochemical examinations. From 16 studied samples of the sectional blood no strain of bacteria was cultured, mixed bacterial flora was isolated from the remaining ones (Tab. 1). Most numerous were Gram-negative bacteria (71%) among which E.coli appeared most frequently. Gram-positive claimed 28% of the cultured microflora, while anaerobes hardly 4%. In the second part of the paper, the selected strains of E. coli pertaining to serological groups: 02, 04, 06, 08, 09, 022, 025 were studied with regard to their possibility to produce ethanol as well as antigens A and B of AB0 system. E.coli strains were grown on broth medium containing glucose in concentration of from 0.00 to 27.75 mmol/l and human blood of 0 group collected from blood-donors on sodium citrate and CPD preservative with glucose in its content. Ethanol concentration in cultures was determined after 24 and 72 hours of incubation, by gas chromatography method, and glucose by enzymatic method. In serological investigations the material consisted of linen pieces being covered with 72-hour cultures of E.coli on broth and human blood of group 0. The study for the presence of the group substances A and B of AB0 system was performed by absorption method according to Holzer, and by absorption and elution method. In consequence of the studies it has been ascertained that sodium fluoride added as a bacteriostatic agent does not entirely inhibit the growth of bacteria, and especially bacteria Gram-negative appeared to be least sensitive to its action (Tab. 1). Selected strains of E.coli have differed with regard to the efficiency of ethanol production (Tab. 2). The level of produced ethanol depended on glucose concentration in the medium, temperature and the incubation time (Tab. 2, 3, 4 and Fig. 1). Under almost similar conditions the same strains produce more alcohol than on blood, which may give rise to supposition that the blood modifies the metabolism of bacteria (Tab. 4 and 5). The cultures of selected strains studied failed to reveal the presence of heteroantigens with properties of antigen A and B of AB0 system.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pathogenic analysis of Aeromonas hydrophila septicemia.

Aeromonas hydrophila has emerged as a potential pathogen in the immunocompromised host. Various aeromonal infections, including septicemia, have also been reported in apparently healthy individuals. For years, researchers have disagreed over the epidemiologic roles of aeromonads in gastroenteritis. Isolation rates of aeromonads by stool culture among patients with gastroenteritis are not consistently high. Carriers of this bacterium also exist. The septicemic course is, however, often fulminant and fatal, and may lack an obvious focus. Pathogenic mechanisms are complex and largely unresolved. The objective of this study is to report the necropsy findings from a uremic patient who presented with typical aeromonal septicemia of obscure origin asking if such investigation could give insight into some of the questions mentioned previously. Western blot immunostaining for aerolysin (beta-hemolysin of aeromonads) was used to evaluate whether or not such a virulence factor is involved in the process of septic dissemination. The autopsy showed that the skin and liver contained microabscesses. The upper gastrointestinal mucosae and spleen contain patchy putrefactive lesions with adjacent focal hemorrhage. Perimortem blood cultures grew Aeromonas hydrophila. A conventional Western blot analysis of the culture supernatant failed to show aerolysin. A control Aeromonas sobia American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) strain produces readily detectable aerolysin. It is concluded that this isolate may be aerolysin-deficient or one secreting low levels of aerolysin; these would require more sensitive methods of detection. The primary focus of infection might be the upper gastrointestinal tract. Other virulence factors including the bacterial proteases and/or phospholipases might be responsible for the pathogenesis of septic dissemination.

Aeromonas hydrophila↗

PubMed1977

[Unusual cases of maternal death caused by amniotic fluid embolism].

Five cases of amnion fluid embolism are reported. In the first case the cause of the death was the obstruction of the lung-vessels. In the lung tissue calcium embolia could also been detected. In the second case embolization started--at unruptured amnionsac--with ecclampsia-like convulsions, later it was followed by coagulopathia. In the third case amnion fluid embolism was complicated by coagulopathia. In the fourth case in addition to amnion fluid embolism endometritis purulenta complicated by endotoxinaemia and coagulopathia were also present. In all four cases rupture of the uterus was revealed. In the fifth case amnion fluid embolism developed without the rupture of the uterus. At the autopsy of cases of maternal death the possibility of amnion fluid embolism should always be considered. Although macroscopic changes seen at amnion fluid embolism are not pathognomic, when clinical and pathological symptoms of haemorrhagic diathesis are present, there always arises the suspicion of amnion fluid embolism. Since lungs are relatively resistant to putrefaction amnion fluid embolism in optimal cases can be diagnosed histologically even in exhumated lung specimen. Reliable diagnosis of amnion fluid embolism in cases of sudden maternal death gives possibility to exclude medical negligence.

Adult↗