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O uso da micologia forense como ferramenta para a estimativa do intervalo post-mortem
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A tanatologia forense desempenha um papel fundamental na investigação criminal, sendo a estimativa do intervalo post-mortem (IPM) um dos seus maiores desafios devido à complexidade e variabilidade do processo de decomposição. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o potencial da micologia forense na estimativa do IPM, analisando o crescimento e a sucessão fúngica em remanescentes biológicos submetidos a diferentes condições ambientais. Para tal, foi utilizado um modelo experimental baseado em cabeças de porco, devido à sua semelhança anatómica e fisiológica com o ser humano, distribuídas em dois grupos: corpos enterrados e não enterrados.
Os resultados demonstraram diferenças significativas na diversidade e predominância de fungos filamentosos e leveduriformes entre os dois cenários. Nos corpos enterrados, destacaram-se géneros como Fusarium sp., Pseudallescheria sp., Epidermophyton sp. e Trichophyton sp., associados a intervalos post-mortem específicos. Nos corpos não enterrados, observou-se maior diversidade fúngica, com destaque para Trichophyton sp., Epidermophyton sp., Alternaria sp., Neoscytalidium sp. e Microsporum sp., sendo apenas alguns destes relevantes para a estimativa do IPM. Leveduras do género Candida foram identificadas em ambos os grupos, mas não apresentaram valor preditivo para a determinação temporal.
De modo geral, os resultados corroboram a literatura existente e indicam que determinados géneros fúngicos podem, futuramente, ser explorados como potenciais marcadores temporais. No entanto, o estudo apresenta limitações relacionadas com a identificação exclusivamente morfológica, reforçando a necessidade da aplicação de técnicas moleculares, como PCR e sequenciação de DNA, bem como a realização de estudos adicionais sob diferentes condições ambientais, para validação e consolidação da micologia forense como ferramenta auxiliar na estimativa do intervalo post-mortem.
Forensic thanatology plays a fundamental role in criminal investigations, and estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI) is one of its greatest challenges due to the complexity and variability of the decomposition process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of forensic mycology in estimating the PMI by analyzing fungal growth and succession in biological remains subjected to different environmental conditions. To this end, an experimental model was used based on pig heads, due to their anatomical and physiological similarity to humans, distributed in two groups: buried and unburied bodies. The results showed significant differences in the diversity and predominance of filamentous and yeast-like fungi between the two scenarios. In the buried bodies, genera such as Fusarium sp., Pseudallescheria sp., Epidermophyton sp. and Trichophyton sp. stood out, associated with specific post-mortem intervals. In the unburied bodies, a greater fungal diversity was observed, especially Trichophyton sp., Epidermophyton sp., Alternaria sp., Neoscytalidium sp. and Microsporum sp., only some of which were relevant for estimating the MPI. Yeasts of the Candida genus were identified in both groups, but had no predictive value for determining the time period. In general, the results corroborate the existing literature and indicate that certain fungal genera could be explored as potential temporal markers in the future. However, the study has limitations related to exclusively morphological identification, reinforcing the need to apply molecular techniques, such as PCR and DNA sequencing, as well as to carry out additional studies under different environmental conditions, in order to validate and consolidate forensic mycology as an auxiliary tool in estimating the post-mortem interval.
Forensic thanatology plays a fundamental role in criminal investigations, and estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI) is one of its greatest challenges due to the complexity and variability of the decomposition process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of forensic mycology in estimating the PMI by analyzing fungal growth and succession in biological remains subjected to different environmental conditions. To this end, an experimental model was used based on pig heads, due to their anatomical and physiological similarity to humans, distributed in two groups: buried and unburied bodies. The results showed significant differences in the diversity and predominance of filamentous and yeast-like fungi between the two scenarios. In the buried bodies, genera such as Fusarium sp., Pseudallescheria sp., Epidermophyton sp. and Trichophyton sp. stood out, associated with specific post-mortem intervals. In the unburied bodies, a greater fungal diversity was observed, especially Trichophyton sp., Epidermophyton sp., Alternaria sp., Neoscytalidium sp. and Microsporum sp., only some of which were relevant for estimating the MPI. Yeasts of the Candida genus were identified in both groups, but had no predictive value for determining the time period. In general, the results corroborate the existing literature and indicate that certain fungal genera could be explored as potential temporal markers in the future. However, the study has limitations related to exclusively morphological identification, reinforcing the need to apply molecular techniques, such as PCR and DNA sequencing, as well as to carry out additional studies under different environmental conditions, in order to validate and consolidate forensic mycology as an auxiliary tool in estimating the post-mortem interval.
Descrição
Dissertação para obtenção do grau de Mestre no Instituto Universitário Egas Moniz
Palavras-chave
Intervalo post-mortem (IPM) Micologia forense Tanatologia forense Modelos suínos Decomposição cadavérica Investigação criminal