PMID- 26217916 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20160523 LR - 20171116 IS - 1872-6283 (Electronic) IS - 0379-0738 (Linking) VI - 254 DP - 2015 Sep TI - Using bacterial and necrophagous insect dynamics for post-mortem interval estimation during cold season: Novel case study in Romania. PG - 106-17 LID - S0379-0738(15)00302-3 [pii] LID - 10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.07.024 [doi] AB - Considering the biogeographical characteristics of forensic entomology, and the recent development of forensic microbiology as a complementary approach for post-mortem interval estimation, the current study focused on characterizing the succession of necrophagous insect species and bacterial communities inhabiting the rectum and mouth cavities of swine (Sus scrofa domesticus) carcasses during a cold season outdoor experiment in an urban natural environment of Bucharest, Romania. We monitored the decomposition process of three swine carcasses during a 7 month period (November 2012-May 2013) corresponding to winter and spring periods of a temperate climate region. The carcasses, protected by wire cages, were placed on the ground in a park type environment, while the meteorological parameters were constantly recorded. The succession of necrophagous Diptera and Coleoptera taxa was monitored weekly, both the adult and larval stages, and the species were identified both by morphological and genetic characterization. The structure of bacterial communities from swine rectum and mouth tissues was characterized during the same time intervals by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and sequencing of 16S rRNA gene fragments. We observed a shift in the structure of both insect and bacterial communities, primarily due to seasonal effects and the depletion of the carcass. A total of 14 Diptera and 6 Coleoptera species were recorded on the swine carcasses, from which Calliphora vomitoria and C. vicina (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Necrobia violacea (Coleoptera: Cleridae) and Thanatophilus rugosus (Coleoptera: Silphidae) were observed as predominant species. The first colonizing wave, primarily Calliphoridae, was observed after 15 weeks when the temperature increased to 13 degrees C. This was followed by Muscidae, Fanniidae, Anthomyiidae, Sepsidae and Piophilidae. Families belonging to Coleoptera Order were observed at week 18 when temperatures raised above 18 degrees C, starting with Cleridae, Silphidae, and followed by Histeridae, Staphylinidae and Dermestidae. For bacteria, 53 taxa belonging to phyla Proteobacteria (Gammaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria), Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were identified from the mouth cavity (36 OTUs) and rectum cavity (17 OTUs). These shifts in insect and bacterial communities indicated their complementary role in the carcass decomposition process. These results represent the first forensic entomological and microbiological survey in Romania. This study shows the value of forensic entomology as a tool for forensic investigations in Romania and neighboring areas with similar biogeographical characteristics. Moreover, this study represents a novel approach for understanding taphonomy and estimating post-mortem interval during cold season by combining entomological and microbiological methods. CI - Copyright (c) 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. FAU - Iancu, Lavinia AU - Iancu L AD - "Grigore Antipa" National Museum of Natural History, 1, Sos. Kiseleff, Bucharest 011341, Romania. Electronic address: lavinia.paul@antipa.ro. FAU - Carter, David O AU - Carter DO AD - Laboratory of Forensic Taphonomy, Forensic Sciences Unit, Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Chaminade University of Honolulu, Honolulu 96816, HI, USA. Electronic address: david.carter@chaminade.edu. FAU - Junkins, Emily N AU - Junkins EN AD - Laboratory of Forensic Taphonomy, Forensic Sciences Unit, Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Chaminade University of Honolulu, Honolulu 96816, HI, USA. Electronic address: emily.junkins@student.chaminade.edu. FAU - Purcarea, Cristina AU - Purcarea C AD - Institute of Biology Bucharest, 296 Splaiul Independentei, Bucharest 060031, Romania. Electronic address: cristina.purcarea@ibiol.ro. LA - eng PT - Journal Article PT - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't DEP - 20150717 PL - Ireland TA - Forensic Sci Int JT - Forensic science international JID - 7902034 SB - IM EIN - Forensic Sci Int. 2016 Jan;258:80 MH - Animals MH - *Bacteria MH - *Cold Temperature MH - *Coleoptera MH - *Diptera MH - Entomology MH - *Feeding Behavior MH - Forensic Pathology MH - Models, Animal MH - *Postmortem Changes MH - Romania MH - Seasons MH - Swine OTO - NOTNLM OT - Bacteriology OT - Cold season OT - Forensic entomology OT - Post-mortem interval OT - Romania OT - Swine EDAT- 2015/07/29 06:00 MHDA- 2016/05/24 06:00 CRDT- 2015/07/29 06:00 PHST- 2014/07/09 00:00 [received] PHST- 2015/07/05 00:00 [revised] PHST- 2015/07/07 00:00 [accepted] PHST- 2015/07/29 06:00 [entrez] PHST- 2015/07/29 06:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2016/05/24 06:00 [medline] AID - S0379-0738(15)00302-3 [pii] AID - 10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.07.024 [doi] PST - ppublish SO - Forensic Sci Int. 2015 Sep;254:106-17. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.07.024. Epub 2015 Jul 17.