title: Malathion extraction from larvae of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) for determining death due to malathion.
abstract: The use of Chrysomya megacephala larvae for detecting malathion for diagnosing   the cause of death was investigated. This could prove useful when the visceral organs have   become liquefied during decomposition and therefore cannot be sampled. A field experiment   was conducted in which C. megacephala were allowed to colonise naturally the corpses of   rabbits that had died of malathion poisoning. The concentration of malathion increased   gradually during the larval stages of C. megacephala reaching the maximum concentration in   the third instar larvae. The concentration of malathion declined during prepupal stage and   reached its lowest level among tenerals. The average malathion concentrations in C.   megacephala growing in poisoned rabbit corpses left in a sunlit habitat were significantly   higher (p<0.05) than those growing on poisoned rabbits left in a shaded habitat. The   concentrations of malathion in the different stages of development of C. megacephala were   moderately correlated (r = 0.51-0.69) with the administered doses as well as with those   estimated in visceral organs. Thus, it would not be reliable to suggest the formulation of   mathematical algorithms for relating the concentration of malathion found in the different   stages of development of C. megacephala with those found in the visceral organs. However,   in the context of forensic investigation, the qualitative detection of malathion in C. megacephala   may prove useful in diagnosing the cause of death, since malathion is a common cause of   accidental and suicidal deaths.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Science Programme, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan. naji@kk.usm.my
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Mahat
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Jayaprakash
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zafarina
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002102:Cadaver; D002423:Cause of Death; D004175:Diptera / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000032:analysis*; D007814:Larva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D008294:Malathion / Q000032:analysis*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D008294:Malathion