Entomologist/ID Coordinator Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences Houston, Texas
Fly colonization of living individuals, myiasis, is by definition not a consideration of the deceased. However, when forensic entomology is part of the death investigation, a history of myiasis may become clear. Contextual and specimen derived information can assist in evaluating the potential for myiasis in a case. A thorough scene investigation that includes observations and collection of all the life stages colonizing the decedent and adjacent materials at the scene, key to any forensic entomology analysis becomes even more relevant in potential myiasis cases. Contextual information including the living conditions for the decedent, medical history with particular emphasis on conditions that affect circulation and healing and observations of differences between the developmental stage of the collected specimens and the decomposition of the decedent also assist in evaluating for myiasis. Several examples using human cases will be presented, that illustrate the information that facilitates evaluating myiasis in a forensic entomology case. Additionally the impact of myiasis on the relationship of the estimated time of colonization with respect to the post-mortem interval will be discussed.
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