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Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc2021; 33(5); 825-833; doi: 10.1177/10406387211021865

Feasibility of using tissue autolysis to estimate the postmortem interval in horses.

Abstract: Estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI) is a poorly studied field in veterinary pathology. The development of field-applicable methods is needed given that animal cruelty investigations are increasing continually. We evaluated various histologic criteria in equine brain, liver, and muscle tissue to aid the estimation of PMI in horses, which is central to forensic investigations of suspicious death. After death, autolysis proceeds predictably, depending on environmental conditions. Currently, no field-applied methods exist that accurately estimate the PMI using histology in animals or humans through quantification of autolysis. Brain, liver, and skeletal muscle from 12 freshly euthanized horses were held at 22°C and 8°C for 72 h. Tissues were sampled at T0h, T1h, T2h, T4h, T6h, T12h, T24h, T36h, T48h, T60h, and T72h. For each tissue, we quantified 5 to 7 criteria associated with autolysis, based on the percentage of microscopic field involved. Each criterion was modeled, with temperature and time as independent variables. Changes were most predictable in liver and muscle over the first 72 h postmortem. The criteria for autolysis that were present most extensively at both temperatures were hepatocyte individualization and the separation of bile duct epithelium from the basement membrane. The changes that were present next most extensively were disruption of myofiber continuity, hypereosinophilia, and loss of striation. Brain changes were highly variable. The high statistical correlation between the parameter "autolysis" and the variables "time/temperature", indicates that autolysis is progressive and predictable. Further investigation of these criteria is needed to establish histologic algorithms for PMI.
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Publication Date: 2021-06-10 PubMed ID: 34109897PubMed Central: PMC8366236DOI: 10.1177/10406387211021865Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The researchers in this study have explored how tissue autolysis can be used to ascertain the time of death in horses, a crucial part of forensic investigations of animal deaths that need improvements. They specifically focused on how autolysis progresses in horse brain, liver, and muscle tissue under varying conditions.

Objective of Research

  • The primary objective of this research was to investigate the possibility of estimating the postmortem interval (PMI) in horses based on the predictable process of tissue autolysis in brain, liver, and muscle tissues. This would aid in forensic investigations related to animal deaths and potential animal cruelty cases.

Methodology

  • The researchers used samples from 12 freshly euthanized horses.
  • The brain, liver, and skeletal muscle tissues were held at 22°C and 8°C for 72 h.
  • Tissue samples were collected at multiple time intervals post-mortem: T0h, T1h, T2h, T4h, T6h, T12h, T24h, T36h, T48h, T60h, and T72h.
  • They identified and quantified 5 to 7 criteria associated with autolysis, based on the percentage of the microscopic field involved.
  • These criteria were modeled with temperature and time as independent variables.

Findings

  • The research found that the changes related to autolysis were predictable in liver and muscle tissues during the 72 h postmortem at both temperatures. However, the changes in brain tissue were highly variable.
  • The most predictable criteria for autolysis were hepatocyte individualization and the separation of bile duct epithelium from the basement membrane.
  • Other notable predictable factors included the disruption of myofiber continuity, hypereosinophilia, and loss of striation.
  • There was a high statistical association between the autolysis parameter and time/temperature variables, indicating that autolysis is a progressive and predictable process.

Conclusion

  • The authors conclude that the findings may provide a basis for further investigation to establish histologic algorithms for PMI estimates.
  • Such work could be critical in aiding forensic investigations in veterinary pathology, particularly in cases of suspected animal cruelty.

Cite This Article

APA
Wenzlow N, Neal D, Stern AW, Prakoso D, Liu JJ, Delcambre GH, Beachboard S, Long MT. (2021). Feasibility of using tissue autolysis to estimate the postmortem interval in horses. J Vet Diagn Invest, 33(5), 825-833. https://doi.org/10.1177/10406387211021865

Publication

Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc
ISSN: 1943-4936
NlmUniqueID: 9011490
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 33
Issue: 5
Pages: 825-833

Researcher Affiliations

Wenzlow, Nanny
  • Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Q, Canada.
Neal, Dan
  • Departments of Surgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Stern, Adam W
  • Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Prakoso, Dhani
  • Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Liu, Junjie J
  • Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Delcambre, Gretchen H
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
Beachboard, Sally
  • Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Long, Maureen T
  • Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Autopsy / veterinary
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Forensic Pathology
  • Horse Diseases
  • Horses
  • Muscle, Skeletal
  • Postmortem Changes

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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Citations

This article has been cited 12 times.
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