title: PCR-based detection of salivary bacteria as a marker of expirated blood.
abstract: Distinguishing between bloodstains caused by a spatter pattern or by expirated blood may be crucial to a forensic investigation. Expirated blood is likely to be contaminated with saliva but current techniques have limited sensitivity, especially with small bloodstains. We report that a PCR assay, designed to detect salivary bacteria, can amplify streptococcal DNA from saliva stains applied to fabrics for at least 62 days after seeding. Bacterial DNA was detected when 0.01 microl of saliva was present in the stain and the amplification was not affected by contamination with blood. These findings indicate that PCR amplification of salivary microbial DNA may have application in the identification of expirated bloodstains in forensic case-work.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA. dapower@buffalo.edu
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Power
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Cordiner
authors.forename: Jules A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kieser
authors.forename: Geoffrey R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Tompkins
authors.forename: Jacqui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Horswell
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D001801:Blood Stains; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006469:Hemoptysis; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000235:genetics*; D013784:Textiles
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial