Premium
The Effect of Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol ® ) on the Development of C hrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and its Implications for Forensic Entomology
Author(s) -
Baia Tainá Costa,
Campos Alessandra,
Wanderley Bruno Mattos Silva,
Gama Renata Antonaci
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.13104
Subject(s) - chrysomya megacephala , calliphoridae , forensic entomology , flunitrazepam , forensic science , biology , toxicology , pupa , veterinary medicine , ecology , medicine , larva , biochemistry , genetics , receptor , gabaa receptor
This study investigated the potential effects of flunitrazepam (known as “date rape drug”) on the developmental cycle of Chrysomya megacephala , an important forensic species, and their possible implications for the calculation of the PMI . A 1050 C. megacephala eggs were divided into five groups with seven replications each. The eggs were placed on artificial diet prepared with four drug concentrations of flunitrazepam (4, 8, 16, and 32 ng/g), besides the control group (prepared with water). Were evaluated the potential effects on development time, weight gain, and mortality during the cycles. The drug had no significant effect on development time or mortality although it did affect the weight of the pupae and adults (Kruskal–Wallis, p < 0.05). The result can be deduced that the determination of the postmortem interval is not affected.