Drug Identification Through Analysis of Maggots

Abstract

The examination of insect larvae from decomposed bodies not only can serve in the estimation of the postmortem interval but also can be used in qualitative identification of drug substances.

The detection of toxic substances in entomological specimens

“…Following the work of Beyer et al [9], demonstrating the presence of phenobarbital in larvae found on a skeletonised female body, numerous experiments were carried out by other groups [10,11,12,13,14,15,16,20,21,23,24] to detect controlled substances and drugs (e.g. opiates, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, cocaine, acetylsalicylic acid and amphetamine derivatives) and to gain useful information on the cause of death, when the toxicologist was unable to examine the usual biological fluids and tissues.…”

“…An analytical technique similar to that for extraction of drugs from hairs is employed. Miller et al [20] described the first detection of drugs (amitriptyline) from chitinised insect tissues (puparial cases and exuviae), associated with mummiToxic drugs detected and reference Analytical findings Barbiturates: phenobarbital [9] Case report Analytical method: GC/MS Results: 100 µg/g…”

“…larvae, pupae, adult flies) are washed again with distilled water and dried with filter paper. This multiple washing treatment is necessary to prevent contamination by human fluid exudate or transudate [16] and 1-10 g [9,10,11,12,13,16,17,21,23,24] of cleaned larvae are weighed and finely chopped with scissors. In the works where pupae have been analysed, a lower amount, 2.5-5 g, was used [21,23].…”

“…Detection of the pesticide malathion was reported by Gunatilake and Goff [8]. In 1980, the first article about a drug, phenobarbital, was published by Beyer et al [9]. In entomological cases, other authors have also analysed drugs and narcotics, in particular triazolam, oxazepam, phenobarbital, alimemazine, clomipramine [10], bromazepam, levomepromazine and clomipramine [11], morphine and phenobarbital [12], cocaine [13,14], amitriptyline, propoxyphene and acetaminophen [15], opiates [16,17,18,19], amitriptyline and nortriptyline [20,21,22], amitriptyline, temazepam, trazodone and trimipramine [23], salicylates, paracetamol, aminohippurate, amphetamines and barbiturates [24], and amphetamine derivatives [25].…”

EFEITO DA TESTOSTERONA NO DESENVOLVIMENTO DE Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

“…Tal resultado evidencia uma influência significativa da testosterona no crescimento de larvas de C. albiceps. 6 e, atualmente, os insetos são uma alternativa confiável para análises toxicológicas, especialmente na ausência de tecidos e fluidos normalmente utilizados para esse propósito 5,7 . Em virtude disso, os dípteros e suas larvas que são encontrados em cadáveres podem contribuir consideravelmente para a identificação de substâncias exógenas presentes no corpo 8 , ciência conhecida como entomotoxicologia.…”