The DOI matches its Crossref record.
Experimental Study of Postmortem Change Under Field Conditions: Effects of Freezing, Thawing, and Mechanical Injury
Abstract
Understanding the processes of postmortem change in biologic systems is important to the forensic sciences. Previous experimental studies of postmortem change in animals under field conditions made use of animal carcasses that had been incidentally exposed to the effects of freezing and thawing or mechanical damage, or both, and were limited to gross observations. The current study was designed to document intrinsic processes of postmortem change, and the effects of freezing-thawing and mechanical injury, under controlled conditions in the field, using histologic and microbiologic techniques, as well as gross observation. Insect and microbiologic succession sequences, and patterns of decomposition and disarticulation, were observable over time. Previously frozen-thawed animals showed predominantly decay (aerobic decomposition) in the field, while freshly killed animals showed predominantly putrefaction (anaerobic decomposition). Previously frozen animals showed the same sequence, but accelerated rates, of disarticulation. Mechanically injured tissues showed accelerated rates of decomposition. These findings have implications for the interpretation of results of previous studies, as well as the interpretation of human and animal remains subjected to freezing and thawing.
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Penetrating trauma affects decomposition rate and/or pattern.
“Some pre vious studies state that penetrating trauma affects decomposition rate and/or pattern [152 -155], but also influences vertebrate scavenger behaviour by luring them and by facilitating access to internal structures [19,154].”
From Forensic experiments on animal scavenging: A systematic literature review on what we have and what we need (2023) · cites this paper as [155]
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Research works printed but not linked: 24
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Sorted by citations
Indra, L., Lösch, S., Errickson, D., & Finaughty, D. (2023) · Forensic Science International · doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111862 · Cited by 18
Metadata
- Authors
- Micozzi, M.
- Affiliations
- Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and director of the Medical Museum 1 associate director , , Washington, DC20306-6000
- Venue
- Journal of Forensic Sciences
- Publisher
- ASTM International
- Published
- 1986-07-01
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 953-961
- ISSN
- 0022-1198 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1482830666
- Cited by
- 220
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 2.67
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Forensic Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Insect Science › Forensic Entomology and Diptera Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Autopsy Techniques and Outcomes
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology (arts and humanities) › Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies
- Keywords
- freezing, thawing, mechanical damage, decomposition, insect succession, microbial succession, disarticulation, putrefaction, aerobic decomposition, anaerobic biodegradation, animal carcasses, forensic taphonomy
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Bone and Bones, Cold Temperature, Female, Forensic Medicine, Freezing, Postmortem Changes, Rats, Inbred Strains, Wounds and Injuries, Rats
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