The use of forensic entomotoxicology for the determination of drug concentrations in insects for forensic cases

Abstract

The present study experimentally investigates the use of Forensic Entomotoxicology for the detection of pharmaceutical drugs in Lucilia sericata, using the API acetaminophen commonly used for pain relief in humans and other animals. The research aims to understand the pharmacological effects of acetaminophen on the insect’s growth patterns, physiology, and metabolism, to better understand the applications of entomotoxicology in the forensic investigative field. The research also investigates how acetaminophen effects the degradation of Lucilia sericata exposed to naturally occurring terrains to understand API effect on physical deterioration of organisms.

Over four weeks Lucilia sericata exhibits were fed a combination of fruit or meat feed containing an increasing quantity of acetaminophen at ≥98% purity: categorised as low (0.5 g), medium (1 g) and high (2 g) doses or ±0.004 g/ fly, ±0.007g/ fly, and ±0.014g/ fly. The concentrations of acetaminophen using an ANOVA test were found to have a significant difference (p = 0.000) with physiological development. No compounds relating to acetaminophen, or its metabolites were found, although compounds of interest were discovered when analysing dosed flies through GC-MS analyses, because components ascertained not being detected in the control. Compounds included Hydroxychalcone used in the pharmaceutical industry as an anti-inflammatory agent. The deceased flies were subjected to degradation in three environments: saltwater, river water, and soil. The simulated environments had different impacts on the pattern of fly body decomposition although it was not clear on the exact impact acetaminophen had in the process of degradation.

From the investigation it can be concluded that there is a difference between the dosage of acetaminophen and growth development. As dosage increased so did the size of the flies. Further investigation should be done into the metabolization and absorption of API’S in carrion. By investigating how carrion, such as Lucilia sericata, processes APIs within the body, scientists can gain an understanding of which compounds should be detected, as well as the impact those compounds have on the physiology of the carrion at a molecular level. This can also help understand how offspring may develop in a future lifecycle. As changes in physiology do not terminate after death, it is imperative to know what changes may occur in the degradation process just as investigated in living development and apply that information back to how the API may have caused this. In the research, investigation into how we may use insects’ morphology and ingestion of API’s encourages the idea that insects are more than easily reproducible and disposable test subjects. If we can detect what is in carrion and its effects it may have instead of just characterising the species of insect found on cadavers, this may open a new direction of thinking in forensic investigations.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Canterbury Christ Church University