Implications of Trombiculid Mite Bites: Report of a Case and Submission of Evidence in a Murder Trial

Prichard, John G.; Kossoris, Peter D.; Leibovitch, Rachel A.; Robertson, Larry D.; Lovell, F. W.

doi:10.1520/jfs11887j

Cited by 23 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…These chiggers might feed on humans as an alternative host for a few days but are perhaps better regarded, like ticks and dermanyssid mites, as micropredators rather than as human parasites (Ashford and Crewe 2003). The species Eutrombicula belkini was central in linking a suspect to a murder scene in a case in California (Prichard et al 1986;Turner 2009). …”

Section: Human Mitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carcases and mites

Braig

Perotti

2009

Exp Appl Acarol

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Mites are involved in the decomposition of animal carcases and human corpses at every stage. From initial decay at the fresh stage until dry decomposition at the skeletal stage, a huge diversity of Acari, including members of the Mesostigmata, Prostigmata, Astigmata, Endeostigmata, Oribatida and Ixodida, are an integral part of the constantly changing food webs on, in and beneath the carrion. During the desiccation stage in wave 6 of Mégnin's system, mites can become the dominant fauna on the decomposing body. Under conditions unfavourable for the colonisation of insects, such as concealment, low temperature or mummification, mites might become the most important or even the only arthropods on a dead body. Some mite species will be represented by a few specimens, whereas others might build up in numbers to several million individuals. Astigmata are most prominent in numbers and Mesostigmata in diversity. More than 100 mite species and over 60 mite families were collected from animal carcases, and around 75 species and over 20 families from human corpses.

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Section: Human Mitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carcases and mites

Braig

Perotti

2009

Exp Appl Acarol

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“…In addition, mites can become reliable indicators of geographical location or origin (Hani et al 2018 ). At genus or species level, mites have micro-habitat specific requirements, offering themselves as potentially one of the most informative pieces of biological trace evidence gathered from a crime scene (Perotti 2009 ; Pimsler et al 2016 ; Prichard et al 1986 ; Russell et al 2004 ; Szelecz et al 2018 ; Webb et al 1983 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Macrocheles species (Acari: Macrochelidae) associated with human corpses in Europe

et al. 2018

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The biology of macrochelid mites might offer new venues for the interpretation of the environmental conditions surrounding human death and decomposition. Three human corpses, one from Sweden and two from Spain, have been analysed for the occurrence of Macrochelidae species. Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Scopoli) females were associated with a corpse that was found in a popular beach area of southeast Spain. Their arrival coincides with the occurrence of one of their major carrier species, the filth fly Fannia scalaris, the activity of which peaks during midsummer. Macrocheles glaber (Müller) specimens were collected from a corpse in a shallow grave in a forest in Sweden at the end of summer, concurrent with the arrival of beetles attracted by odours from the corpse. Macrocheles perglaber Filipponi and Pegazzano adults were sampled from a corpse found indoors in the rural surroundings of Granada city, south Spain. The phoretic behaviour of this species is similar to that of M. glaber, but it is more specific to Scarabaeidae and Geotrupidae dung beetles, most of which favour human faeces. Macrocheles muscaedomesticae is known from urban and rural areas and poultry farms, M. glaber from outdoors, particularly the countryside, whereas M. perglaber is known from outdoor, rural, and remote, potentially mountainous locations. Macrocheles muscaedomesticae and M. perglaber are reported for the first time from the Iberian Peninsula. This is the first record of M. perglaber from human remains.

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“…They can offer reliable information of the environment where a crime originated, on the new environment after relocation, and their biology can assist with details of the crime scene itself, e.g. explaining circumstances related to a killing, timing, etc [35,48,[57][58][59]. Despite their importance as valuable trace evidence, mites have not yet been adopted in routine investigations of crime scenes involving soil.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%