Forensic investigation of carcass decomposition and dipteran fly composition over the summer and winter: a comparative analysis of indoor versus outdoor at a multi-story building.

This study aimed to explore the rate of decomposition of rabbit carcasses and the succession pattern of the associated dipteran flies outdoor, indoor, and on the roof of a 4-story building during the summer and winter. A total of 6,069 flies were recorded, with 30.91% reported as 2 waves outdoor and on the roof in the summer and 69.09% as 4 waves outdoor in the winter. The roof showed the most flies in the summer but the least in the winter, whereas the outdoor showed the most in the winter but the least in the summer. The ground and first floors showed the most indoor flies, while the second and third floors showed the least in both seasons. Indoor carcasses decomposed slower than those outdoor, and those on the second and third floors decomposed slower than those on the ground and first floors. Ten fly species from 8 families were identified in the winter, compared to 6 from 5 families in the summer. The most abundant species was Musca domestica Linnaeus (Muscidae) on the roof in the summer, while it was Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemannn) (Calliphoridae) outdoor in the winter. The rare species (singletons) were Musca sp. (Muscidae) and Megaselia scalaris (Loew) (Phoridae) on the first floor in both seasons, Scaptomyza pallida (Zetterstedt) (Drosophilidae) on the ground floor in the summer, and Atherigona orientalis Schiner (Muscidae) outdoor in the winter. These data highlight the variance in carcass decomposition and fly composition across outdoor, indoor, and the roof of human dwellings, which could be of forensic importance.

A preliminary investigation of rabbit carcass decomposition and attracted ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on the seaward coastal beach of Al-Jubail City, Saudi Arabia.

The current study was carried out in the seaward coastal beach environment of Al-Jubail City, Saudi Arabia, to analyze the rabbit carcass decomposition process, the succession pattern of associated ants, and their potential utility in forensic investigation. Experiments were conducted over a 4-season course (from autumn 2018 to summer 2019). A total of 9 species belonging to the 2 subfamilies, Myrmicinae and Formicinae, were recorded. The myrmicine species were Crematogaster aegyptiaca Mayr, 1862; Messor ebeninus Santschi, 1927; Messor foreli Santschi, 1923; and Monomorium abeillei Andre, 1881. The formicine species were Camponotus xerxes Forel, 1904; Cataglyphis albicans (Roger, 1859); Cataglyphis hologerseniCollingwood & Agosti, 1996; Cataglyphis viaticoides (André, 1881); and Nylanderia jaegerskioeldi (Mayr, 1904). M. abeillei was the only species recorded in all 4 seasons, while M. abeillei and C. albicans were the dominant species in summer and C. aegyptiaca and C. albicans in spring. Diversity was lowest in the autumn, with only 4 species recorded. The COI gene sequences of 5 species have been successfully deposited in the GenBank database for the first time. In total, 4 carcass decomposition stages were observed, with the longest duration in winter (13 days), the shortest in summer (11 days), and in between for both autumn and spring. Most ant species were present during both decay and dry stages, while M. abeillei, C. aegyptiaca, M. ebeninus, and C. albicans were observed in all decomposition stages. These data may indicate that ants on this coastal beach showed seasonal and geographical succession patterns that could be taken into consideration in forensic investigations.

Molecular Detection of Leishmania spp. in Skin and Blood of Stray Dogs from Endemic Areas of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Dogs can act as reservoirs of canine leishmaniasis, caused by Leishmania species. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of canine leishmaniasis using a PCR technique among stray dogs living in three provinces of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Al-Ahsa Oasis and Al-Qaseem, where the disease is endemic; and to identify and document different Leishmania to species levels. METHODS: This cross-sectional investigation was conducted, from Mar 2016 to Apr 2018, in three parts of Saudi Arabia: Central province (Riyadh), Eastern province (Al-Ahsa Oasis) and Al-Qaseem province. Blood samples were collected from 526 dogs; 40 presented cutaneous nodules so were suspected clinically of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Biopsy tissue collections and parasite cultures were performed. A generic kDNA was performed using different primers for Leishmania differentiation. RESULTS: All blood samples were negative for Leishmania infantum infection by molecular analysis, though forty dogs had thick cutaneous lesions in different parts of their body. Four dogs' skin lesions were associated with dermatitis, splenomegaly and lymphadenomegaly. Parasite culture was used to diagnose cutaneous leishmaniasis, identifying 31/40 (77.5%) positive samples. Overall, of 526 samples, the prevalence of L. major and L. tropica was found to be 4% and 1.9%, respectively. Gender and age had a significant effect on Leishmania prevalence: (P=0.0212 and 0.0357), respectively. CONCLUSION: This was the first molecular study of dog leishmaniasis from Saudi Arabia of dogs confirmed to have cutaneous leishmaniasis. Further epidemiological and molecular investigations of domestic and wild canine infections with L. major, L. tropica and L. infantum in endemic and nonendemic areas of Saudi Arabia are required, for leishmaniasis control.

Indigofera oblongifolia mitigates lead-acetate-induced kidney damage and apoptosis in a rat model.

This study was conducted to appraise the protective effect of Indigofera oblongifolia leaf extract on lead acetate (PbAc)-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. PbAc was intraperitoneally injected at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight for 5 days, either alone or together with the methanol extract of I. oblongifolia (100 mg/kg). Kidney lead (Pb) concentration; oxidative stress markers including lipid peroxidation, nitrite/nitrate, and glutathione (GSH); and antioxidant enzyme activities, namely superoxide dismutase, catalase, GSH peroxidase, and GSH reductase were all determined. The PbAc injection elicited a marked elevation in Pb concentration, lipid peroxidation, and nitrite/nitrate, with a concomitant depletion in GSH content compared with the control and a remarkable decrease in antioxidant enzymes. Oxidant/antioxidant imbalance, Pb accumulation, and histological changes in the kidneys were successfully prevented by the pre-administration of I. oblongifolia extract. In addition, the elevated expression of proapoptotic protein, Bax, in the kidneys of the PbAc-injected rats was reduced as a result of I. oblongifolia pre-administration, while the hitherto reduced expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was elevated. Based on the current findings, it can be concluded that I. oblongifolia successfully minimizes the deleterious effects in kidney function and histological coherence associated with nephrotoxicity by strengthening the antioxidant defense system, suppressing oxidative stress, and mitigating apoptosis.

The effect of Babesia divergens infection on the spleen of Mongolian gerbils.

Babesiosis is caused by intraerythrocytic protozoan parasites transmitted by ticks and affects a wide range of domestic and wild animals and occasionally humans. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of B. divergens infected erythrocytes on spleen histopathology, cell cycle alteration, and the presence of oxidative stress. Mongolian gerbils were challenged with 5 × 10(6) Babesia divergens infected erythrocytes. Parasitemia reached approximately 77% at day 5 postinfection. Infection also induced injury of the spleen. This was evidenced with (i) increases in cellular damage of the spleen, (ii) decrease in antioxidant capacity as indicated by decreased glutathione, catalase, and superoxide dismutase levels, (iii) increased production of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide derived products (nitrite/nitrate), and (iv) increased lactic acid dehydrogenase activity and protein carbonyl content in the spleen. Infection interfered with normal cell cycle of the spleen cells at G0/G1, S, and G2/M phases. On the basis of the above results it can be hypothesized that B. divergens infected erythrocytes could alter the spleen histopathology and cause cell cycle alteration and induce oxidative stress in splenic tissue.