Bacterial Succession on Rat Carcasses and Applications for PMI Estimation.

ABSTRACT

UNLABELLED Abstract OBJECTIVE: To investigate the bacterial succession on rat carcasses and to evaluate the use of bacterial succession for postmortem interval (PMI) estimation. METHODS: Adult female SD rat remains were placed in carton boxes. The bacterial colonization of circumocular skin, mouth and vagina was collected to be identified using culture-dependent biochemical methods. The changes in community composition were regularly documented. RESULTS: The bacterial succession in three habitats showed that Staphylococcus and Neisseria were predominated in early PMI, especially Staphylococcus aureus and Neisseria lactamica in 6 hours after death. Lactobacillus casei developed on the 3-4 days regularly, and kept stable at a certain level in late PMI. CONCLUSION: The involvement of normal and putrefactive bacteria in three body habitats of rat remains can be used for PMI estimation.