Stability of prostate specific antigen (PSA), and subsequent Y-STR typing, of Lucilia (Phaenicia) sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) maggots reared from a simulated postmortem sexual assault

Rape-homicide represents one of the most heinous crimes, but which are also the hardest to solve due to the high occurrence of stranger-to-stranger interaction. This is the first case of obtaining P30 and Y-STR typing from a simulated postmortem sexual assault. 2, 3.5 and 6 mul of liquid semen was added to a liver substrate and Lucilia (Phaenicia) sericata (Meigen) eggs added. The larvae fed upon the semen coated substrate and were removed for testing after 48 and 145 h after initial liquid semen deposition. P30 was recorded from whole postfeeding larvae after 145 h, with correct Y-STR profiles obtained from the crop of actively feeding second instar larvae after 48 h of initial semen deposition. The ability to obtain P30 and Y-STR profiles from larvae infesting a cadaver, with the suspicion of sexual assault having occurred prior to death, provides a new avenue to aid in the solving of such crimes. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.