Biomaterial Database

Geographical identification of cadavers by human parasites. 2008

Hiroshi Ikegaya

National Research Institute of Police Science, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan. Ikegaya-tky@umin.ac.jp

Increasing numbers of unidentified cadavers have recently become an important forensic problem in many countries. To identify such cadavers, DNA typing method is widely used. However, as this technique requires reference DNA samples, a method that would quickly narrow down possible candidates for the cadavers is needed to enable rapid identification. Unfortunately, no really reliable methods suitable for this purpose have been available; however, methods using the human parasites, JC virus, BK virus and EB virus, have been reported. These new methods narrow down the candidates by elucidating geographic origins. Though not detectable in all cases, results using such methods with several parasites have enabled us to estimate geographic origins of unidentified cadavers with a high detection rate.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007577	JC Virus	A species of POLYOMAVIRUS, originally isolated from the brain of a patient with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. The patient's initials J.C. gave the virus its name. Infection is not accompanied by any apparent illness but serious demyelinating disease can appear later, probably following reactivation of latent virus.	Human Polyomavirus JC,JC polyomavirus,Polyomavirus, JC,John Cunningham Virus,Polyomavirus hominis 2,Polyomavirus JC, Human,Virus, John Cunningham
D012015	Reference Standards	A basis of value established for the measure of quantity, weight, extent or quality, e.g. weight standards, standard solutions, methods, techniques, and procedures used in diagnosis and therapy.	Standard Preparations,Standards, Reference,Preparations, Standard,Standardization,Standards,Preparation, Standard,Reference Standard,Standard Preparation,Standard, Reference
D001739	BK Virus	A species of POLYOMAVIRUS apparently infecting over 90% of children but not clearly associated with any clinical illness in childhood. The virus remains latent in the body throughout life and can be reactivated under certain circumstances.	BK polyomavirus,Human Polyomavirus BK,Polyomavirus, BK,Polyomavirus hominis 1,Polyomavirus BK, Human
D002102	Cadaver	A dead body, usually a human body.	Corpse,Cadavers,Corpses
D004279	DNA, Viral	Deoxyribonucleic acid that makes up the genetic material of viruses.	Viral DNA
D005838	Genotype	The genetic constitution of the individual, comprising the ALLELES present at each GENETIC LOCUS.	Genogroup,Genogroups,Genotypes
D005843	Geography	The science dealing with the earth and its life, especially the description of land, sea, and air and the distribution of plant and animal life, including humanity and human industries with reference to the mutual relations of these elements. (From Webster, 3d ed)	Factor, Geographic,Factors, Geographic,Geographic Factor,Geographic Factors,Geography, Human,Human Geography
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D016172	DNA Fingerprinting	A technique for identifying individuals of a species that is based on the uniqueness of their DNA sequence. Uniqueness is determined by identifying which combination of allelic variations occur in the individual at a statistically relevant number of different loci. In forensic studies, RESTRICTION FRAGMENT LENGTH POLYMORPHISM of multiple, highly polymorphic VNTR LOCI or MICROSATELLITE REPEAT loci are analyzed. The number of loci used for the profile depends on the ALLELE FREQUENCY in the population.	DNA Fingerprints,DNA Profiling,DNA Typing,Genetic Fingerprinting,DNA Fingerprint,DNA Fingerprintings,DNA Profilings,DNA Typings,Fingerprint, DNA,Fingerprinting, DNA,Fingerprinting, Genetic,Fingerprintings, DNA,Fingerprintings, Genetic,Fingerprints, DNA,Genetic Fingerprintings,Profiling, DNA,Typing, DNA,Typings, DNA
D018732	Forensic Anthropology	Scientific study of human skeletal remains with the express purpose of identification. This includes establishing individual identity, trauma analysis, facial reconstruction, photographic superimposition, determination of time interval since death, and crime-scene recovery. Forensic anthropologists do not certify cause of death but provide data to assist in determination of probable cause. This is a branch of the field of physical anthropology and qualified individuals are certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology. (From Am J Forensic Med Pathol 1992 Jun;13(2):146)	Anthropology, Forensic,Human Identification,Human Identifications,Identification, Human,Identifications, Human