Anita Yadav Associate Professor, Associate Professor, Forensic Science, School of Sciences, SAGE University, Bhopal 462022, Madhya Pradesh, India
Tanya Shree MSc Student Division of Forensic Science, School of Basic and Applied Science, Galgotias University, Greater Noida 201312, Uttar Pradesh, India
Anuwanshi Sharma PhD Scholar, Division of Forensic Science, School of Basic and Applied Science, Galgotias University, Greater Noida 201312, Uttar Pradesh, India
Rashmi Sharma PhD Scholar, Division of Forensic Science, School of Basic and Applied Science, Galgotias University, Greater Noida 201312, Uttar Pradesh, India
Address for correspondence: Anita Yadav, Associate Professor, Associate Professor, Forensic Science, School of Sciences, SAGE University, Bhopal 462022, Madhya Pradesh, India E-mail: anitakakas7@gmail.com
This license
enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any
medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as
attribution is given to the creator.
Tanya Shree, Anita Yadav, Anuwanshi Sharma, et al./Diatoms and their usage in Forensics in different water Bodies: A Review. Jr of Clin Forensic Sci. 2023;1(2):79–84.
Timeline
Received : March 13, 2023
Accepted : May 29, 2023
Published : December 30, 2023
Abstract
Diatoms are unique and single celled algae belonging to the family Bacillariophyceae. They are the rarest found algae in the water. Diatom plays important role in the prognosis of deathin drowning. Diatom present in tissue indicates the sign of drowning. The utility of diatom for the identification of death cases due to drowning was discussed soon after they were found inlungexudates. For diagnosis of diatom, hard bone and soft tissue of dead bodies found in water are often sent to Forensic Science Laboratories. Dissolution of evidence is not very difficult but the complete removal of these diatoms frustules from the evidence needs great care, protection, more attention, and expertise. During analyze of drowning cases a connection between the diatomextracted from the tissue sample and the sample obtained from the put at ivedrowning medium has to be confirmed for the successful resolution of the drowning site. As aresult a proper procedure for the extraction of diatom from the tissue and water evidence to keep away from even minor contamination. Diatom examination has been suggested to provide supportive evidence of drowning. The same type of diatoms is found in almost similarty pes of water bodies. Significant changes in diatom diversity were found with seasonal changes. The quantitative distribution of diatoms in water sources is strongly assisted by climatic conditions.
References
1. J. Moar, Drowning—postmortem appearances and forensic significance. A case report, S. Afr.Med.J.64 (1983)792–795.
2. E. Wiggins, J. Luke, The pathology, diagnosis and medicolegal aspects of death by drowning, J.Okla. St.Med.Assoc.63(1970)3–7.
4. P.Brouardel, C. Vibert, Etude surlasubmersion, Ann. Hyg. Pub. Med. Leg.4(1880)452–470.
5. H. Swann, N. Spafford, Body salt and water changes during fresh and sea water drowning, Texas Rep. Biol. Med.9 (1951)350–384.
6. V. Revenstorf, Der Nachweis der aspirierten Etrankungs flussigkeitals Kriteriumdes Todesdurch Etrinken, Verete ljahresschs. Geritchl. Med. Off. Sanitaetswes. 28(1904)274–279.
7. A. Peabody, Diatoms and drowning—are view, Med. Sci. Law 20(4)(1980)254–261.
8. J.Timperman, The diagnosis of drowning—are view, Forensic Sci.1 (1972)397–409.
9. W. Spitz, Diagnose des Ertrinkungs to desdurch den Diatomeen-Nachweis in Organen, Dtsch. Z.Ges. Ger. Med.5(1963)42–45.
10. F. Petersohn, Diatomeen befundebei Wasserlichen, Dtsch.Z.Ges. Ger. Med. 54(1963)370.
11. I. Hendey, The diagnostic values of diatomsincases of drowning, Proc. Br. Assoc. Forensic Sci.13(1) (1971)23–34.
12. Rinku Bharati, Digvijay Verma, Study on fresh water diatoms from different habitats of Patna, Bihar, India, J. Indianbot. Soc.2019: 157-156.
13. Dr. Mishra, M.K. and Shailesh Kumar. 2017. “Study of diatom flora for the site identification of Yamuna river at Delhi”, International Journal of Development Research, 7,(07),14103-14108.
14. C.S. Singh, Diatom-Flora of the rivers Ganga and Barna at Varanasi, F.N.I. 29,B, No.6.
15. Krstic, S., Duma, A., Janevska, B., Levkov, Z., Nikolova, K. and Noveska, M. (2002) Diatoms in forensic expertise of drowning–A Macedonian Experience. For Sci Int.;127:198-203.
16. Tyagi, G.D. (1985) Diatoms of Delhi. J.F.M.S.; 2(3):18-23.
17. Pollanen, M.S.(1996) The diagnosis test for drowningin On tario.JCSFS;29(4):205-11.
18. Ludes, B., Quantin, S., Coste, M. and Mangin, P. (1994) Application of a simple enzymaticdigestion method for the diatom detection in the diagnosis of drowning in petrified corpses by diatom analysis. Int. J.LegMed;107(1):37-41.
19. Sidari, L. and Nunno, N.D., Costantinides, F. and Melato, M. (1999) Diatom test with Soluene 350to diagnose drowning in sea water. For Sci Int.;103 (1): 61-65.
20. N. Foged, Diatomsin human tissues, Nova Hedwigia 36(1982)345–360.
21. A. Dayan, R. Morgan, R. Trefty, T. Paddock, Naturally occuring diatomaceous pneumoconiosis insub-humanprimates, J.Comp.Path.88(1978) 321– 325.
22. L. Tamaska, Diatomcontent of bone marrowin corpses in water, Orv. Hetil.16(1949)509–511.
23. Ludes, B., Coste M., Tracqui, A. and Mangin, P. (1996) Contivuous River Monitoring of Diatoms in The Diagnosis of Drowning. Journal of Forensic Science; 41(3):425-28.
24. Ludes, B., Quantin, S., Coste, M. and Mangin, P.(1994) Application of asimpleenzy matic digestion method for the diatomdetectionin the diagnosis of drowning in petrified corpses by diatomanalysis.Int. J.Leg Med;107(1):37-41.
25. Lunetta, P., Penttila, A. and Hallfors, G. (1998) Scanning and transmission election µscopicalevidence of the capacity of diatoms to penetrate the alveoli-capillary barrier in drowning. Int. J. LegMed;111: 229-37.
26. Mottonen, Mand Ravanko, O. (1971) Nachweisdes Todesdurch Ertirinkenmittols Blutge fund enerfremder Pflanzenelemente. Z. rechtsmed: 68:261-66.
27. Mueller, B. (1952) Zur Frageder Diagnostikdes Entrink kungstodes. Ztschr. Ger.Med.;41:400-4.
28. Mueller, B. and Gorgs, D.(1949) Studienuberdas Elindringenvoncorpiscularen Wasserbet and tielenausden Lungenaveolen, in des Kreislaufwahrenddes Ertinkungsvorganges. Ditch. Z. Gesamte Gericbtl. Med;39:25-71.
29. Naeve, W. (1956) Zurpractis chenge richtsmedizin is chen Anwendungdesdia to meenna chweissim ‘grossen Kreislauf”.Deustschj. Ztschr.ger.Med;45: 364-69.
30. Nanikawa, R. and Kotoku, S. (1974) Medicolegal observations on a dead body drawn up from the seabed, with special reference to ethanol and diatoms. Case Report. J. For Sci;3:225-32.
31. Neidhart, D.A. and Grrendyke, R.M. (1967) The significance of diatom demonstrations in thediagnosisofdeath by drowning. Amer J.Clin Path;48(4):377-82.
32. Pachar, J.V. and Cameron, J.M. (1992) Scanning Electron Microscopy:Applicationin the Identification of Diatoms in Cases of Drowning. JFSCA37 (3):860-66.
Data Sharing Statement
There are no additional data available. All raw data and code are available upon request.
Funding
This research received no funding.
Author Contributions
Whether all authors contributed significantly to the work and approve its publication.
Ethics Declaration
This article does not involve any human or animal subjects, and therefore does not require ethics approval.
Acknowledgements
We would like to express our gratitude to the patients, their families, and all those who have contributed to this study.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.
About this article
Cite this article
Tanya Shree, Anita Yadav, Anuwanshi Sharma, et al./Diatoms and their usage in Forensics in different water Bodies: A Review. Jr of Clin Forensic Sci. 2023;1(2):79–84.
This license
enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any
medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as
attribution is given to the creator.
This license
enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any
medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as
attribution is given to the creator.