Application of Diatoms Quantitative Analysis in the Diagnosis of Drowning
DU Yu-kun,
ZHANG Tian-ye,
LIU Jing-jian,
LIU Chao,
KANG Xiao-dong,
ZHENG Dong-yun,
SHI He,
XU Qu-yi,
MA Kai-jun,
ZHAO Jian
Affiliations
DU Yu-kun
Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, Guangzhou 510442, China
ZHANG Tian-ye
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence, Key Laboratory of Forensic Evidence and Science Technology, Ministry of Public Security, Institute of Forensic Science, Shanghai Public Security Bureau, Shanghai 200083, China
LIU Jing-jian
College of Forensic Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
LIU Chao
Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, Guangzhou 510442, China
KANG Xiao-dong
Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, Guangzhou 510442, China
ZHENG Dong-yun
Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, Guangzhou 510442, China
SHI He
Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, Guangzhou 510442, China
XU Qu-yi
Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, Guangzhou 510442, China
MA Kai-jun
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence, Key Laboratory of Forensic Evidence and Science Technology, Ministry of Public Security, Institute of Forensic Science, Shanghai Public Security Bureau, Shanghai 200083, China
ZHAO Jian
Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, Guangzhou 510442, China
ObjectiveTo retrospectively analyze diatom test cases of corpses in water and discuss the value of quantitative analysis of diatoms in the diagnosis of drowning.MethodsA total of 490 cases of water-related death were collected. They were divided into drowning group and postmortem immersion group according to the cause of death. Diatoms in lung, liver, kidney tissue and water sample were analyzed quantitatively by microwave digestion-vacuum filtration-automated scanning electron microscopy （MD-VF-Auto SEM） method. The ratios of content of diatoms in lung tissue and water sample （CL/CD） were calculated.ResultsThe results of diatom test for three organs （lung, liver and kidney） were all positive in 400 cases （85.5%）; the content of diatom in lung, liver, kidney tissues, and water samples of drowning group were （113 235.9±317 868.1）, （26.7±75.6）, （23.3±52.2） and （12 113.3±21 760.0） cells/10 g, respectively; the species of diatom were （7.5±2.8）, （2.6±1.9）, （2.9±2.1） and （8.9±3.0） types, respectively; the CL/CD of drowning group and postmortem immersion group were （100.6±830.7） and （0.3±0.4）, respectively.ConclusionQuantitative analysis of diatoms can provide supportive evidence for the diagnosis of drowning, and the parameter CL/CD can be introduced into the analysis to make a more accurate diagnosis of drowning.
