Where To Send Animal Hair For Identification
EXCLI J. 2018; 17: 663–670.
Pilus histology as a tool for forensic identification of some domestic animate being species
Yasser A. Ahmed
1Section of Histology, Faculty of Veterinarian Medicine, S Valley University, Qena, Arab republic of egypt
Safwat Ali
iiSection of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt
Ahmed Ghallab
3Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
Received 2018 Jun 28; Accustomed 2018 Jul 2.
Abstruse
Animal hair examination at a criminal scene may provide valuable information in forensic investigations. However, local reference databases for animal hair identification are rare. In the present study, we provide differential histological analysis of hair of some domestic animals in Upper Egypt. For this purpose, guard hair of large ruminants (buffalo, camel and cow), small ruminants (sheep and goat), equine (horse and ass) and canine (dog and true cat) were collected and comparative analysis was performed past light microscopy. Based on the hair cuticle scale pattern, type and diameter of the medulla, and the pigmentation, feature differential features of each animal species were identified. The cuticle scale pattern was imbricate in all tested animals except in donkey, in which coronal scales were identified. The cuticle scale margin type, shape and the distance in between were feature for each beast species. The hair medulla was continuous in most of the tested beast species with the exception of sheep, in which fragmental medulla was detected. The diameter of the hair medulla and the margins differ co-ordinate to the animal species. Hair shaft pigmentation were non detected in all tested animals with the exception of camel and buffalo, in which granules and streak-similar pigmentation were detected. In conclusion, the present study provides a first-step towards preparation of a complete local reference database for brute hair identification that tin be used in forensic investigations.
Keywords: animal hair, veterinary forensics, animal identification, hair medulla, hair scales
Introduction
Animal identification in forensic science is fundamental for many reasons. Analyses of beast remains, e.g. hair or os, at a criminal scene may assist to provide prove for contact of a suspected attacker (Bertino and Bertino, 2015[ii]; Knecht, 2012[17]), or to diagnose some toxic cases e.g. the presence of arsenic, pb or molybdenum in animasl (Harker, 1993[12]; Henderson, 1993[13]; Krumbiegel et al., 2014[18]). In restaurants, animal remain investigation can help to identify meat adulteration, e.g. meats of cat, canis familiaris or donkey instead of rabbit, goat or sheep. Furthermore, animate being identification is of import in instance of illegal trade (Cooper and Cooper, 2008[5]; Lawton and Cooper, 2009[19]; Nishant et al., 2017[23]). Moreover, Chernova (2014[4]) provided a proof of principle that hair examination can give some evidence of the age.
Brute species identification can exist done based on many features including morphology of animate being remains, particularly pilus and bone. For example, osteon morphology can be used every bit a tool to distinguish mammalian from non-mammalian species (Ahmed et al., 2017[1]). Hair morphology is another important tool that can be used to place animal species (ENFSI, 2015[ten]). Four main types of hair were described in different mammals, of which baby-sit hair is the most important in differentiation betwixt various animal species (Knecht, 2012[17]; Tridico, 2005[25]).
The pilus consists of two parts, hair root which is embedded in the dermis of the peel, and hair shaft which extends above the epidermis as a cylindrical structure. The hair shaft consists of 3 distinct morphological layers (Figure 1(Fig. 1)): medulla (the central layer), cuticle (the outer layer), and the cortex (between the medulla and the cuticle) (Knecht, 2012[17]; Debelica and Thies, 2009[7]; Deedrick and Koch, 2004[ix]). The medulla, the innermost layer of the pilus shaft, is a honeycomb-like keratin structure with air spaces in between. The pilus medulla tin can exist continuous, discontinuous or fragmental, depending on the species (Deedrick and Koch, 2004[9]). The cortex contains keratin fibers and pigments which is responsible for the coloration of the pilus. The cuticle, the outermost layer, consists of overlapping keratin scales (Deedrick and Koch, 2004[9]). Two main patterns of cuticle scales were identified: (i) imbricate, this includes ovate, sharpen, elongate, flattened and crenate cuticles; and (ii) coronal, which include uncomplicated, serrate or dentate cuticles. The distance between every two successive scale margins can exist either close, intermediate or broad, depending on the animal species (Debelica and Thies, 2009[7]). The pattern of the cuticle scales, the type and the bore of the medulla and/or the characteristics of pigmentation tin can be used for creature species identification as well as for differentiation between creature and homo hair at crime scene (Brunner and Coman, 1974[3]).
Cantankerous section showing the layers of the pilus shaft
The high content of cysteine-containing keratin and dead keratinocytes make the pilus resistant to postmortem changes and chemic decomposition (Knecht, 2012[17]; Harkey, 1993[12]). This feature increases the medicolegal importance of pilus examination in forensic investigations.
Although several studies and databases are available for man hair examination, complete local databases for comparative creature hair morphology are rarely found. In the present report, we provide a beginning-pace toward a complete reference database for comparative pilus morphology of domestic brute species in Upper Arab republic of egypt.
Materials and Methods
Sample collection and preparation
Dorsal baby-sit hair, betwixt shoulder blades, were taken from three live adult male person individuals of domestic buffalo, camel, moo-cow, horse, ass, sheep, goat, dog, and true cat from Luxor and Qena cities, Egypt, in April and May 2018. The collected hair was immersed in 70 % ethanol for v minutes in order to remove dirt and sticky non-hairy materials. The middle of the hair shaft, approximately 2 cm length, was cut and prepared for light microscopic exam equally described beneath.
Cuticle scale pattern examination
Cuticle scales were investigated using the gelatin casting method as described past Cornally and Lawton (2016[6]). Briefly, twenty % gelatin was prepared in boiling water. A thin film of gelatin was performed on a clean glass slide. The hair shafts were placed superficially on the gelatin motion picture and left for overnight at room temperature. After, the hair were removed leaving the imprint of the scales on the gelatin cast. Images were caused at X40 using a lite microscope (Leica DMLS, Germany).
Medulla and pigmentation examination
In order to visualize the medulla and pigmentation of the hair, moisture-mountain or permeant-mountain techniques were applied equally previously described (Knecht, 2012[17]). Briefly, the collected hair were placed on a drinking glass slide and mounted either past a drop of h2o (wet-mount) or by DEPX (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Deutschland) mounting media (permanent mount), and covered with a coverslip. Images were acquired at X100 using a light microscope (Leica DMLS, Federal republic of germany).
Result evaluation
Cuticle calibration patterns, types of medulla, and pigmentation features were identified and compared in unlike animal species using the bachelor animal hair keys in the literature (Knecht, 2012[17]; Debelica and Thies, 2009[vii]; Brunner and Coman, 1974[3]; Cornally and Lawton, 2016[6]; Huffman and Wallace, 2012[xiv]).
Results
Based on the hair cuticle scale patterns, type and bore of the medulla and the pilus pigmentation domestic animals (large ruminants, equine, small ruminants, and canine) were identified and compared (Table 1(Tab. one); Figures 2(Fig. 2) and 3(Fig. 3)).
Comparative analysis of pilus morphology in different animal species
Morphology of the hair cuticle scales in different animal species. A. buffalo; B. camel; C. cow; D. horse; E. donkey; F. sheep; Grand. caprine animal; H. domestic dog; I. true cat. Scale bar: 25 µm
Morphology of the pilus medulla in unlike animal species. A. buffalo; B. camel; C. moo-cow; D. horse; Due east. ass; F. sheep; M. caprine animal; H. canis familiaris; I. cat. Scale bar: 62.5 µm
Comparative analysis of hair cuticle scales for identification of domestic animals
The hair cuticle scale patterns, the margin type, shape and distance between scales were visualized and compared in the tested animals (Tabular array 1(Tab. 1); Figure two(Fig. ii)). The cuticle scales were imbricate in all tested animals except in donkey, in which coronal scales were identified. Based on scale margin type, shape and altitude the tested animals were clearly differentiated. In buffalo, rippled cuticle margins, close-distant, double-chevron shaped were detected. Whereas, cuticle scales with smooth margins, irregular mosaic shape, and wide-distant were establish in sheep. In dog, the calibration margin blazon and altitude were similar to that of sheep, but regular in shape. In cat, crenate scale margins, irregular in shape with close distances were detected. In equus caballus and camel, the scale margin type, shape and altitude were similar, appeared as crenate irregular waves with intermediate distances. In moo-cow, the scale margins were also crenate with intermediate distances, just appeared as regular waves in shape (Table 1(Tab. ane); Effigy two(Fig. 2)).
Comparative analysis of hair medulla and pigmentation for identification of domestic animals
In add-on to the hair scale morphology, the blazon, size and margins of the medulla every bit well as the pigmentation were used to identify and compare the tested domestic animals (Tabular array 1(Tab. one); Figure 3(Fig. 3)). All tested animals showed continuous type of medulla with the exception of sheep, in which the medulla was fragmental. In buffalo and donkey, the diameter of the medulla was very wide roofing almost the unabridged hair shaft; the margins were smooth. In contrast, in horse the bore of the medulla was very narrow, less than ane third of the hair shaft, and the margins were serrated or notched. In goat, the diameter of the medulla was slightly wider than in horse, covering approximately one third of the hair shaft, with serrated margins. Approximately 50 % of the hair shaft was covered by the medulla in canis familiaris, and the margins were smooth. In camel, moo-cow and cat, the medulla occupied approximately ii thirds of the pilus shaft; the margins were smoothen in camel and cow, just slightly serrated in cat. Pilus shaft pigmentation were not detected in all tested animals with the exception of camel and buffalo, in which granules and streak-similar pigmentation were detected (Table 1(Tab. 1); Figure iii(Fig. 3)).
Word
Hair test plays an important function in forensic investigations. Analysis of hair at a crime scene might exist helpful to trace a suspicious contact. Moreover, it may assistance to diagnose some toxic cases, e.yard. arsenic, pb and molybdenum toxicity, and identify the duration of exposure (Harkey, 1993[12]; Henderson, 1993[13]; Krumbiegel et al., 2014[18]). In human, hair examination is used also to detect drug corruption e.g. heroin, amphetamine and cannabis (Sen, 2010[24]). Resistance of the hair to postmortem changes and chemic decomposition due to the high content of cysteine-containing keratin (Knecht, 2012[17]; Harkey, 1993[12]), added to its value in forensic investigations. All the same, the field of veterinary forensic medicine in general, including hair examination, is not well-developed in comparison to human forensics. Although few local keys for animal pilus identification are available worldwide, e.g. in Europe (Keller, 1978[xv], 1980[16]; Lochte, 1938[20]) and Usa (Mayer, 1952[21]), such regional keys are lacking in Egypt. In the present report, comparative histological analysis of domestic brute pilus was performed, including large ruminants (buffalo, camel and cow), pocket-sized ruminants (sheep and goat), equine (horse and donkey), and canine (dog and cat). Based on the morphology of the hair cuticle scales, medulla and pigmentation, comparative characteristic features were recorded, using the currently available animal hair keys in literature as a guide (Knecht, 2012[17]; Debelica and Thies, 2009[7]; Brunner and Coman, 1974[3]; Cornally and Lawton, 2016[6]; Huffman and Wallace, 2012[fourteen]).
Our results are similar to the available literature (Knecht, 2012[17]: Debelica and Thies, 2009[7]; Brunner and Coman, 1974[3]; Cornally and Lawton, 2016[6]; Huffman and Wallace, 2012[14]; Mukherjee et al., 2016[22]; Trivedi, 2015[26]), but with few exceptions. The present analysis revealed that the hair cuticles in cow are of imprecate type, the margins are crenate, regular waved and intermediate-afar. The medulla is continuous, occupying more than half of the hair shaft, and no pigments were seen in the cortex. Trivedi (2015[26]) reported similar results with the exception that the calibration margins are wide-distant, partially smooth and partially notched. In equine, our results revealed that the medulla is continues, occupying less than one 3rd of the shaft in donkey and encompass almost the entire shaft in equus caballus. However, Gharu and Trivedi (2015[26]), showed that the hair medulla in equine is fragmental. The hair scales in sheep are imbricate, smooth, irregular mosaic and broad-distant; the medulla is fragmental. In caprine animal, the cuticle scale pattern is imbricate with crenate, irregular-wave, intermediate-distant margins; the medulla is continuous occupying approximately one tertiary of the hair shaft. This result is non in understanding with reports in the literature describing that both in sheep and goat the cuticle scales are arranged irregularly, and the medulla is continuous. The hair cuticle scales in dog is imbricate, smooth, petal and wide-afar, and the medulla is continuous occupying approximately half of the pilus shaft; this is different from the vacuolated structure of the hair medulla described by Mukherjee et al. (2016[22]). A possible explanation for this discrepancy could be the adaptive changes due to different climatic atmospheric condition.
It is of import to differentiate between human and animal pilus in forensic investigations. This tin easily be done past inspection of the hair medulla. In about of the tested animals the medulla is continuous with wide bore, whereas, in human the hair medulla is usually very thin, fragmental or may exist absent-minded in some cases (Deedrick and Koch, 2004[8]). An exception based on the present results is sheep, in which also a thin fragmental pilus medulla was detected. Therefore, careful analysis of pilus scales and pigmentation is essential to differentiate between hair of human being and sheep.
While the present results gives a clear comparative picture show between the tested animal species, one limitation is that information technology is difficult to differentiate between various animal strains within the aforementioned family unit based only on hair morphology. For this purpose, further analyses are required.
In conclusion, the nowadays study provides a first-step towards preparation of a local reference database for animal hair identification that can be used in forensic investigations. Further studies are required using more sophisticated techniques to have a complete local atlas for fauna identification.
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Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6088218/
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