Search Results (556)

Background/Objectives: The presence of postmortem pink teeth is a phenomenon occasionally observed during forensic autopsies. This phenomenon has been typically associated with deaths involving drowning, asphyxiation, trauma, or electrocution. However, the recent literature suggests that it is nonspecific. Despite being recognized in forensic literature for decades, its pathophysiology, prevalence, and forensic relevance remain controversial. The existing evidence is scattered and primarily based on case reports, narrative reviews, or isolated observations. This scoping review aims to systematically map the available scientific evidence on the phenomenon of postmortem pink teeth and its potential role in determining the cause of death within the context of forensic medicine. Methods: This review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews and reported according to the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. Results: A comprehensive search was carried out across multiple databases to identify studies addressing the occurrence, mechanisms, and forensic interpretation of pink teeth in postmortem examinations. After application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the search allowed for the selection of 12 publications (case reports and observational studies). Conclusions: Collected data from the selected studies allowed us to conclude that PTP is a nonspecific taphonomic artifact, lacking diagnostic value in determining the cause of death. Mapping the current evidence on pink teeth contributed to a better understanding of this phenomenon and its lack of forensic significance, promoting more informed decision-making in postmortem assessments. Full article

The number of confiscated CITES-listed animals has increased dramatically worldwide, creating significant health, logistical, and resource challenges for responsible authorities. Rescue centers represent a scientific and humanitarian response to this challenge, providing solutions through rehabilitation, research, and environmental education. This postmortem survey provides information on disease and mortality during a four-year period, in confiscated CITES-listed birds and reptiles housed in an authorized rescue center. A total of 29 animals (17 birds and 12 reptiles) were examined by necropsy and histopathology. Infectious disease accounted for the mortality of 58.8% of birds and 49.8% of reptiles, with overrepresentation of bacterial disease in both groups. Lesions consisted mainly of granulomas in multiple organs. Suspected viral disease occurred in 23.3% of birds, and protozoal infections were found in 17.3% of birds. Systemic disease caused by an unknown haemosporozoan was the cause of death in a Lonchura oryzivora. An unknown infectious agent was associated with renal disease in a Ctenosaura sp. Gout secondary to dehydration was overrepresented in reptiles (33.3%). This study highlights the complexity of disease processes affecting confiscated birds and reptiles in CITES rescue settings and provides invaluable information for other rescue centers that may impact the success of conservation strategies. Full article

Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) are classified as Vulnerable and listed in Appendix I of CITES, making the investigation of stranding and mortality causes essential for their conservation. This study describes the post-mortem findings of five Humboldt penguins stranded along the Chilean coast during 2025, focusing on renal and ureteral lesions associated with trematode infection. Gross examination revealed multifocal to coalescing renal lesions, including intrapelvic white purulent material and marked thickening of the ureteral walls. Histopathological analysis demonstrated moderate to severe renal and ureteral inflammation, characterized by intratubular and intraureteral trematodes associated with tubular degeneration, interstitial inflammation and fibrosis, vascular alterations, occasional glomerular changes, and severe ureteritis. Morphological and morphometric analyses of adult parasites obtained from histological renal sections confirmed the presence of trematodes. On clinical evaluation, stranded animals presented with lethargy, no evidence of external trauma, and body condition ranging from normal to emaciated. These findings confirm the presence of trematode-associated nephropathy and ureteropathy in Humboldt penguins. To our knowledge, this is the first report worldwide linking renal and ureteral parasitosis to disease in this species. Further molecular analyses are required to achieve definitive etiological identification and to support the recognition of this condition as an emerging disease relevant to conservation strategies for Humboldt penguins. Full article

Veterinary forensic pathology is an evolving discipline at the intersection of veterinary medicine, forensic science, and animal welfare law. This article underscores the growing importance of this field in advancing both animal welfare and justice. Drawing on post-mortem examinations, advanced forensic techniques, and real-world case studies, the article highlights how forensic veterinarians differentiate between ante- and post-mortem injuries, estimate time of death, and interpret complex trauma patterns. It also reviews the application of imaging technologies, bloodstain pattern analysis, forensic entomology, and histological tools in forensic investigations. Through illustrative case examples, including neglect, sexual abuse, thermal injuries, firearm wounds, and asphyxia, the article demonstrates the evidentiary value of veterinary pathology in legal contexts. Finally, the article outlines future directions for the field, emphasizing the need for standardized training, interdisciplinary collaboration, and greater legal recognition. Full article

Diagnostic imaging is essential in veterinary practice, and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) has emerged as a promising tool to complement radiography. This study aimed to optimize the image quality of a novel multimodality veterinary X-ray prototype integrating direct digital radiography, fluoroscopy and CBCT, and to assess its potential clinical applications, focusing on the CBCT component. The study was conducted in three phases: optimization of CBCT image quality using postmortem samples, comparison of CBCT and 16-slice multidetector CT (MDCT) images of four cadavers (two dogs and two cats), and potential clinical applications in 24 live patients. Comparative evaluation in postmortem scans revealed that CBCT achieved equal quality in 65% of bone compared to MDCT and a slightly inferior quality in 90% of soft-tissue structures using the bone reconstruction protocol, with beam hardening as the main limiting factor. Clinical validation showed that CBCT was particularly useful for identifying small fractures and mineralized structures, providing diagnostic information not clearly visible on radiographs. Integration of radiography, fluoroscopy, and CBCT in a single device facilitated workflow and allowed a more precise diagnosis in most of the patients examined with the prototype, which demonstrated promising diagnostic performance in small-animal and exotic veterinary practice. Full article

Inflammatory mammary carcinoma (IMC) is an aggressive mammary carcinoma phenotype characterized by tumor emboli within superficial dermal lymphatic vessels and early metastasis. A captive Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) presented with large abdominal mammary masses and regional lymphadenopathy; contrast-enhanced computed tomography also revealed a pulmonary nodule. Postmortem examination and histopathology confirmed mammary carcinoma with dermal lymphatic tumor emboli and metastases to regional lymph nodes and the lung. Tumor emboli were cytokeratin positive, supporting epithelial origin and an IMC diagnosis, and neoplastic cells were immunopositive for cytokeratin with concurrent vimentin immunoreactivity. This case highlights the clinicopathologic basis of IMC and the diagnostic importance of including full-thickness skin and adjacent subcutis in the sampling plan. Full article

Background/Objectives: Personal identification is a cornerstone of Forensic Medicine. Historical records indicated that 27 Italian soldiers were executed by Tito’s army in April 1945 and buried in the mass grave of Ossero (Cres Island, Croatia). Methods: The remains, exhumed in 2019 by Croatian authorities and transferred to the Sacrario d’Oltremare (Bari, Italy), underwent radiographic and anthropological analyses. Genetic analysis was later performed on 147 bone samples, leading to the identification of 10 soldiers. Results: Anthropological analyses revealed commingled remains of at least 34 individuals (15–45 years; 161–181 cm), including eight skeletal elements of female sex. Forensic examination confirmed cranial and post-cranial gunshot wounds. Conclusions: Extensive commingling and fragmentation of the remains prevented full reconstruction of individual skeletons, yet comparison with ante-mortem data supported their identification as the aforementioned soldiers. Unexpected findings, including historically undocumented females, were confirmed by DNA analysis. These findings underscore the value of a multidisciplinary approach to optimize recovery and subsequent forensic and genetic investigations. Full article

Background: Rapid Sequence Induction (RSI) is a widely used method for emergency airway management in critically ill and clinically unstable patients. Beyond the risks inherent to the procedure itself, RSI is almost exclusively performed in emergency settings where patients present with severe physiological derangement and a high risk of aspiration. In postmortem examinations, forensic toxicology results may be influenced by the patient’s clinical condition, the sampling site, the postmortem interval (PMI), and postmortem drug redistribution (PMR). This review aims to evaluate the existing literature regarding PMR of drugs commonly used during RSI. Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Library were searched for studies on PMR of drugs used in intravenous (IV) RSI (up to November 2025). Human and animal studies, patient populations comparable to critically ill individuals requiring RSI, and forensic case reports of exclusively IV drug administration were included. Studies on recreational use, overdose and non-IV administration were excluded. Results: Data on the PMR of IV-administered RSI drugs remain limited. Most available studies involve Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients or individuals who underwent RSI in emergency settings. Fentanyl and midazolam appear to demonstrate notable PMR. Several factors influencing postmortem drug concentrations were identified. Although these findings are consistent with the existing literature, the small number of studies and the heterogeneity of data preclude definitive conclusions. Conclusions: Critical patient condition, including frailty due to advanced age, hemodynamic instability (particularly in ICU patients), hypoalbuminemia, body mass index (BMI), and injury and/or trauma, as well as the interval between IV drug administration and death, appear to affect postmortem concentrations of drugs used during RSI. The potential for PMR of certain agents, such as fentanyl and midazolam, adds further complexity. Given the scarcity of consolidated evidence and until further research provides more robust data, postmortem drug levels should not be interpreted as directly reflective of antemortem concentrations. Full article

The overdose mortality landscape has shifted from predominantly opioid exposures to a polysubstance epidemic increasingly driven by illicit fentanyl and fentanyl analogs combined with other centrally active agents. Among the co-intoxicants, veterinary α₂-adrenoceptor (α₂AR) agonists such as xylazine have emerged as clinically confounding adulterants. Recent reports from forensic toxicology, medical examiners, and border/interdiction agencies indicate that medetomidine, a veterinary sedative racemate with the highly selective α₂AR agonist enantiomer dexmedetomidine, is increasingly being detected together with fentanyl and its analogs in seized materials and postmortem assays. Prior reviews have covered these aspects. The current review synthesizes current evidence and clinical experience relevant to fentanyl + medetomidine co-exposure-induced respiratory depression—a primary cause of death. We focus on convergent µ-opioid receptor (MOR) and α₂AR signaling within key physiological substrates, including respiratory rhythm-generating networks, ascending arousal pathways, chemosensory reflex control of ventilation, and autonomic cardiovascular regulation, integrating mechanistic pharmacology, respiratory and cardiovascular toxicology, emergency-room treatment, and emerging public-health implications. Available evidence supports a model in which combined MOR and α₂AR activation produces additive-to-synergistic suppression of ventilation and consciousness, attenuation of hypoxic ventilatory drive and CO₂ responsiveness, with marked sympatholysis manifested as bradycardia and hypotension, all of which can persist beyond presumptive opioid reversal with a MOR antagonist. We discuss the implications for prehospital and emergency care. In sum, the increasing detection of medetomidine in the illicit fentanyl supply represents an emerging and potentially high-risk co-exposure pattern that may be only partially naloxone-responsive. Lastly, we highlight potential future pharmacologic countermeasures for polysubstance overdose, such as the BK-channel antagonist ENA-001, which may address naloxone-insensitive ventilatory suppression in opioid-dominant polysubstance overdose. Full article

Pancreatic lesions in wildlife are rarely diagnosed antemortem and are often misinterpreted as neoplastic due to limited diagnostic information. This report describes two clinically linked cases of pancreatic infection caused by Tetragomphius spp. in rescued Asian badgers (Meles leucurus) from Gangwon State, Republic of Korea, between 2020 and 2025, and the diagnostic advantages of advanced imaging techniques. The first case involved a badger rescued from a trap with severe traumatic injuries that was subsequently euthanized. Postmortem examination revealed nematodes identified as Tetragomphius sp. within the pancreatic duct, alongside tumor-like nodular lesions in the pancreatic tail. These findings were critical for the second case, where a rescued badger with no overt clinical signs underwent computed tomography (CT) that revealed a pancreatic tail nodule and splenomegaly. Drawing on findings from the initial necropsy case, a parasitic etiology was tentatively diagnosed in a second live badger presenting with a similar pancreatic nodule. Follow-up CT indicated a significant reduction (approximately 75%) in lesion size, supporting a diagnosis of parasitic infection. To our knowledge, this represents the first report of a CT-based therapeutic diagnosis of pancreatic Tetragomphius infection in a live Asian badger. These cases demonstrate that pancreatic nodules in Asian badgers may result from parasitic infection rather than neoplasia and emphasize the integration of pathological precedent, advanced imaging, and therapeutic response in wildlife medicine. Full article

Blood is a key biological specimen in forensic analysis for both living and deceased individuals, playing a crucial role in drug testing, blood typing, DNA analysis, and bloodstain pattern examination. In forensics, the decomposition of blood holds particular importance because it is a major biological fluid in the human body and undergoes early chemical changes that attract insects and microorganisms to cadaveric sources. The odor signatures produced during the putrefactive process have recently gained forensic relevance, prompting studies to investigate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from blood, tissues, animal proxies, and human cadavers to enhance human remains detection and recovery via technological or biological means. This study focuses on cadaveric blood odor profiling, evaluating VOC signatures from human cadavers in an anatomy laboratory using solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) upon body receipt. A second phase entailed a degradation analysis using 7 human cadavers and a total of 28 postmortem samples repeatedly sampled over a 4-week period. The findings revealed an increasingly complex odor profile as decomposition progresses, with a notable rise in both the variety and concentration of VOCs. Room temperature samples exhibited a more diverse and rapid VOC release, while refrigerated samples showed slower degradation. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of decomposition patterns and ultimately refine human remains detection methodologies. Full article

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A/H5N1 has emerged as a cause of severe disease in domestic cats, but clinical data from field outbreaks remain limited. We retrospectively reviewed medical records, laboratory results, and ancillary examinations from 22 domestic cats with RT-qPCR-confirmed A/H5N1 infection diagnosed in Poland in June 2023. To the best of our knowledge, we report the first comprehensive retrospective case series from the 2023 Polish outbreak, combining 22 laboratory-confirmed cats with detailed clinical timelines and laboratory findings. For each cat, the temporal progression of clinical signs, hematology, serum biochemistry, and, when available, imaging findings were evaluated. Post-mortem examination data were not systematically available in this retrospective cohort. Notably, six of these cats were strictly indoor cats that received raw poultry meat as part of their diet. Disease onset was acute, with fever, lethargy, and anorexia rapidly progressing to severe dyspnea and neurological signs, including ataxia, seizures, and paraplegia; case fatality was 100%, with a typical interval of ≤3 days from first signs to death or euthanasia. Hematologic changes were dominated by thrombocytopenia, lymphopenia, and marked eosinopenia, consistent with a systemic inflammatory/stress leukogram. Biochemistry indicated marked tissue injury, with increased AST, LDH, and CK activities, whereas creatinine and urea remained largely within reference intervals, arguing against primary renal failure. Imaging supported the presence of interstitial to diffuse pneumonia. These data characterize the clinical and laboratory phenotypes of feline A/H5N1 infection and underscore its importance as a rapidly fatal respiratory and neurological disease with One Health implications. Full article

The application of advanced imaging techniques, particularly computed tomography (CT), photogrammetric scanning, and three-dimensional reconstructions of body surfaces and skeletal remains, is becoming a crucial component of Forensic Anthropology. These tools enable a non-invasive and highly standardized analysis of both intact cadavers and human remains recovered from terrestrial or aquatic environments, providing reliable support in identification processes, traumatological reconstruction, and the assessment of taphonomic processes. In the context of estimating the Post-Mortem Interval (PMI) and the Post-Mortem Submersion Interval (PMSI), digital imaging allows for the objective and reproducible documentation of morphological changes associated with decomposition, saponification, skeletonization, and taphonomic patterns specific to the recovery environment. Specifically, CT enables the precise assessment of gas accumulation, transformations in residual soft tissues, and structural bone modifications, while photogrammetry and 3D reconstructions facilitate the longitudinal monitoring of transformative processes in both terrestrial and underwater contexts. These observations enhance the reliability of PMI/PMSI estimates through integrated models that combine morphometric, taphonomic, and environmental data. Beyond PMI/PMSI estimation, imaging techniques play a central role in anthropological bioprofiling, facilitating the estimation of age, sex, and stature, the analysis of dental characteristics, and the evaluation of antemortem or perimortem trauma, including damage caused by terrestrial or fauna. Three-dimensional documentation also provides a permanent, shareable archive suitable for comparative analyses, ensuring transparency and reproducibility in investigations. Although not a complete substitute for traditional autopsy or anthropological examination, imaging serves as an essential complement, particularly in cases where the integrity of remains must be preserved or where environmental conditions hinder the direct handling of osteological material. Future directions include the development of AI-based predictive models for PMI/PMSI estimation using automated analysis of post-mortem changes, greater standardization of imaging protocols for aquatic remains, and the use of digital sensors and multimodal techniques to characterize microstructural alterations not detectable by the naked eye. The integration of high-resolution imaging and advanced analytical algorithms promises to further enhance the reconstructive accuracy and interpretative capacity of Forensic Anthropology. Full article

Background/Objectives: Histological examination constitutes a fundamental methodology for establishing the vitality of a lesion. In cases where the corpse is preserved for an extended duration of time prior to the post-mortem evaluation, particularly if the body has undergone freezing and thawing cycles, post-mortem changes may obscure or alter evidence of traumatic injuries. Consequently, the reliability of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining for the reliable detection of intralesional erythrocytes in suspected traumatic fatalities is potentially severely compromised. The primary objective of this study is to rigorously underscore the detrimental influence of freeze–thaw processes on histologic examination and to advocate the indispensable incorporation of immunohistochemical analysis, specifically employing anti-human glycophorin A antibodies, to ascertain the presence of red blood cells. Methods: Skin samples from 10 autopsy cases were subjected to serial freeze–thaw cycles and analyzed using anti-human Glycophorin A (GPA) immunohistochemistry staining to evaluate skin lesion vitality in freeze–thawed tissues compared to fresh controls. Results: Results indicated that while H&E reliability was limited to fresh tissue, anti-GPA staining remained stable across all freeze–thaw cycles. Conclusions: Forensic pathologists must remain acutely cognizant of the potential artifacts produced by freeze–thaw cycles. In these cases, anti-GPA staining proved to be a reliable asset for evaluating the vitality of a lesion. Full article

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disorder caused by loss of the SMN1 gene, reduced levels of SMN protein, and motor neuron degeneration. However, increasing evidence shows that SMA is a multisystemic disease with immune system involvement. We investigated how SMN deficiency affects lymphoid organ development and function using a severe SMA mouse model (SMNΔ7) and postmortem human fetal and postnatal tissues lacking SMN1 and carrying one or two SMN2 copies, consistent with type 0–I SMA. Histology, immunostaining, and flow cytometry were used to examine tissue architecture and immune cell composition. SMNΔ7 mice displayed thymus, spleen, and bone marrow abnormalities, including mislocalization of T- and B-cells and expansion of resident macrophages. Bone marrow analysis revealed impaired B-cell development, suggesting intrinsic hematopoietic defects rather than apoptosis. Early treatment with a nusinersen-like antisense oligonucleotide, administered intracerebroventricularly or subcutaneously, restored SMN2 splicing, improved survival, motor function, and prevented lymphoid pathology. Human SMA samples exhibited similar, though milder, splenic alterations compared to SMNΔ7 mice, while thymic organization remained largely preserved. These findings demonstrate that SMN deficiency disrupts lymphoid organ development through defective bone marrow output and impaired immune cell maturation. Early SMN restoration prevents these abnormalities, highlighting immune dysfunction as a key component of SMA pathology. Full article