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- Title
The Effect of Different Coverings on Total Body Score Development of Buried Carcasses.
- Authors
Chee Hau Teo; Hiang Lian Hing; Noor Hazfalinda Hamzah; Sri Pawita Albakri Amir Hamzah
- Abstract
Background: Examination of post-mortem changes is one of the ways to assess decomposition process on buried bodies. Nonetheless, studies on such assessment are still lacking, especially on the effects of body coverings by different materials in burial conditions. The aim of this research is to study the effect of different types of covering towards decomposition on buried rabbit carcasses by using Total Body Score (TBS) system. Methods: Twenty-seven rabbit carcasses were divided into: (i) No Clothing; (ii) Thick Clothing and (iii) Plastic Wrapping groups, and buried into individual shallow graves. One subject was exhumed from first to ninth post-burial week and assessed by using TBS system. Results and Discussion: There are significant differences among TBS between different coverings while controlling the time factor, F (2, 23) = 4.80, P < 0.05, partial η² = 0.294. TBS score for Plastic Wrapping group is significantly lower than No Clothing group over times at α = 0.05, P < 0.05. The slightly delaying effect of thick clothing is caused by design of jacket, which allows arthropods access and microbial activity. Relatively strong delaying effect by plastic covering could be caused by impermeable property that caused accumulation of decompositional products and slow down the degradation. Conclusion: In conclusion, TBS system is a potential tool in describing rate of decomposition for buried cases in Malaysia.
- Subjects
BIOLOGICAL models; POSTMORTEM changes; EXHUMATION; PLASTICS; ANIMAL experimentation; RABBITS; FUNERAL industry; ARTHROPODA; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; CLOTHING &; dress
- Publication
Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences, 2021, Vol 28, Issue 4, p103
- ISSN
1394-195X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.21315/mjms2021.28.4.11