Identification of Forensically Important Sarcophagid Files (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) in China, Based on COI and 16S rDNA Gene Sequences

• NCJ Number: 236885
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 56 Issue: 6 Dated: November 2011 Pages: 1534-1540
• Author(s): Yadong Guo, Ph.D.; Jifeng Cai, Ph.D.; Yunfeng Chang, Ph.D.; Xiang Li, Ph.D.; Qinlai Liu, M.S.; Xinghua Wang, M.S.; Xiang Wang, Ph.D.; Ming Zhong, Ph.D.; Jifang Wen, Ph.D.; Jiangfeng Wang, Ph.D.
• Date Published: November 2011
• Length: 7 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

In this study, 23 forensically important flesh flies were collected from 13 locations in 10 Chinese provinces for indications of postmortem interval.

Abstract

Insects attracted to cadavers may provide important indications of the postmortem interval (PMI). However, use of the flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) for PMI estimation is limited as the species are often not morphologically distinct, especially as immatures. In this study, 23 forensically important flesh flies were collected from 13 locations in 10 Chinese provinces. Then, a 278-bp segment of the cytochrome oxidase subunits one (COI) gene and a 289-bp segment of the 16S rDNA gene of all specimens were successfully sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequenced segments showed that all sarcophagid specimens were properly assigned into four species (Boerttcherisca peregrina [Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830], Helicophagella melanura [Meigen, 1826], Parasarcophaga albiceps [Meigen, 1826], and Parasarcophaga dux [Thompson, 1869]) with relatively strong supporting values, thus indicating that the COI and 16S rDNA regions are suitable for identification of sarcophagid species. The difference between intraspecific threshold and interspecific divergence confirmed the potential of the two regions for sarcophagid species identification. (Published Abstract)