[Maggot-induced postmortem changes simulating gunshot wounds]. 1988

S Pollak, and C Reiter
Institut für gerichtliche Medizin der Universität Wien.

In the warm season, human cadavers often are the breeding ground of fly larvae. In special conditions, the damage by maggots can take on the appearance of bullet holes. Preexisting injuries allow the maggots to penetrate the skin also in parts other than the body apertures commonly infested. Round tissue damage similar to gunshot-wounds are favored by the fact that the larvae of some types of flies bundle together to form feeding communities. The enzymes from the salivary glands of the fly larvae may in some rare instances even lead to perforation of bone lamellae (e.g. in the region of the orbital roofs). The case reports deal with 2 cases in which changes due to damage by maggots primarily gave the impression of gunshot-wounds.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007814 Larva Wormlike or grublike stage, following the egg in the life cycle of insects, worms, and other metamorphosing animals. Maggots,Tadpoles,Larvae,Maggot,Tadpole
D008297 Male Males
D011180 Postmortem Changes Physiological changes that occur in bodies after death. Adipocere,Algor Mortis,Cruor,Livor Mortis,Change, Postmortem,Changes, Postmortem,Postmortem Change
D004175 Diptera An order of the class Insecta. Wings, when present, number two and distinguish Diptera from other so-called flies, while the halteres, or reduced hindwings, separate Diptera from other insects with one pair of wings. The order includes the families Calliphoridae, Oestridae, Phoridae, SARCOPHAGIDAE, Scatophagidae, Sciaridae, SIMULIIDAE, Tabanidae, Therevidae, Trypetidae, CERATOPOGONIDAE; CHIRONOMIDAE; CULICIDAE; DROSOPHILIDAE; GLOSSINIDAE; MUSCIDAE; TEPHRITIDAE; and PSYCHODIDAE. The larval form of Diptera species are called maggots (see LARVA). Flies, True,Flies,Dipteras,Fly,Fly, True,True Flies,True Fly
D005554 Forensic Medicine The application of medical knowledge to questions of law. Legal Medicine,Medicine, Forensic,Medicine, Legal
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014948 Wounds, Gunshot Disruption of structural continuity of the body as a result of the discharge of firearms. Gunshot Wound,Gunshot Wounds,Wound, Gunshot

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