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Molecular identification of fungi found on decomposed human bodies in forensic autopsy cases

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Abstract

To investigate which fungi can be found during forensic autopsies, a PubMed literature review was done in regard to fungal growth on decomposed human bodies. Unfortunately, the existing data is limited and not all fungi were identified to the species level. We, therefore, collected skin samples with macroscopically visible fungal growth from 23 autopsy cases in Germany and identified the fungi to the species level by molecular methods. The identified species included Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans, which pose an allergenic risk, especially to persons with underlying lung diseases. Because safety standards are lacking, we recommend the use of respiratory protection during exhumations and forensic autopsies, when fungal growth is noted. With regard to the future, a database was set up which could possibly be used as a forensic tool to determine the time of death.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Uta Eisentraut for her help in the sequencing of the isolates.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Legal Medicine, University of Frankfurt, Kennedyallee 104, 60596, Frankfurt/Main, Germany

    Patrick Schwarz & Marcel A. Verhoff

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pneumology, University Hospital of Marburg, Baldingerstraße, 35043, Marburg, Germany

    Patrick Schwarz

  3. Lung Research Institute, Philipps University of Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Straße 2, 35043, Marburg, Germany

    Patrick Schwarz

  4. Université Paris Descartes, Faculté de Médecine, AP-HP, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Unité de Parasitologie-Mycologie, 75015, Paris, France

    Eric Dannaoui

  5. Department of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Butenfeld 42, 22529, Hamburg, Germany

    Axel Gehl

  6. Department of Legal Medicine, University of Gießen, Frankfurter Straße 58, 35392, Gießen, Germany

    Heike Felske-Zech, Christoph G. Birngruber & Reinhard B. Dettmeyer

Authors
  1. Patrick Schwarz
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  2. Eric Dannaoui
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  3. Axel Gehl
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  4. Heike Felske-Zech
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  5. Christoph G. Birngruber
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  6. Reinhard B. Dettmeyer
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  7. Marcel A. Verhoff
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Correspondence to Marcel A. Verhoff.

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Schwarz, P., Dannaoui, E., Gehl, A. et al. Molecular identification of fungi found on decomposed human bodies in forensic autopsy cases. Int J Legal Med 129, 785–791 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-014-1118-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-014-1118-6

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