MEDICOLEGAL USE OF LACTOBACILLI MARKERS IN IDENTIFICATION OF HUMAN VAGINAL SECRETIONS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Forensic medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of medicine, Zagazig University

2 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of medicine, Zagazig University

Abstract

The identification of body fluids at a crime scene is considered as a very important aspect of forensic science. Messenger RNA has recently been shown to be sufficiently stable to be considered suitable for use in forensic identification of body fluids.
Aim of the work: To assess the usefulness of using Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus gasseri genetic markers in forensic identification of human vaginal secretions found in crime scene.
Subjects and methods: All body fluid samples were taken from fifty volunteers: blood, saliva, semen, menstrual blood and vaginal secretions. Also different body fluid mixtures were prepared. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) was extracted from all theses samples and then multiplex Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) method and gel electrophoresis were done.
Results: The Lactobacilli gene markers were proved to be present in vaginal fluid. They were present in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. The Lactobacilli gene markers were present only in vaginal fluid and not in other body fluids. Also, they were present in body fluid mixtures only containing vaginal fluid.
Conclusion: The Lactobacilli markers are present in vaginal fluid without affection of the age on their presence. The Lactobacilli markers are specific to vaginal fluid and effective markers for its forensic identification even when they are mixed with other body fluids.
Recommendations: The Lactobacilli markers are useful markers for the vaginal fluid. The multiplex RT-PCR can be used as effective method for identification of body fluids at crime scene.

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