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Home / Equine Research Bank / Microsc Res Tech / Performance scanning electron microscopic investigations and...
Microscopy research and technique2022; 85(6); 2152-2161; doi: 10.1002/jemt.24073

Performance scanning electron microscopic investigations and elemental analysis of hair of the different animal species for forensic identification.

Abstract: Veterinary forensics have attracted less attention compared with human forensics. Animal hair morphological examination using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and hair mineral analysis using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) provide reference databases for animal hair identification used in forensic investigations. This study was performed on four different animal species: large ruminants (buffalo and cattle), small ruminants (goat and sheep), carnivores (cat and dog), and equines (donkey and horse). The hair scale pattern, scale margin type, and distance between scales were identified. The hair scale pattern was imbricate in large ruminants, goat, and horse; coronal (crown-like) in carnivores and donkey; and spinous in sheep. The morphometric measurements, including cuticle layer thickness, cuticle scale height, cortex diameter, and hair shaft width were recorded. The highest cuticle thickness was found in horse, and the highest cuticle hair scale was detected in cattle. Moreover, the largest cortex diameter was measured in buffalo, whereas the smallest one was in cat. With regard the content of hair elements, some elements were specific for the hair of certain tested animals, such as bromine in sheep and magnesium and phosphorus in buffalo. In addition, vanadium and titanium were found only in cattle and dog, and the latter element was also detected in sheep. In conclusion, this study provides two techniques for animal hair identification that can be used in forensic investigations. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Hair scale pattern was imbricate in (large ruminants, goat, and horse); coronal in (carnivores and donkey); and spinous in (sheep) with different scale margins type. Hair shaft width in all tested animal species ranged from 23.78 ± 1.24 μm to 85.51 ± 1.14 μm.
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Publication Date: 2022-02-02 PubMed ID: 35107190DOI: 10.1002/jemt.24073Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

This research article explores the use of scanning electron microscopy and hair mineral analysis for identifying and differentiating various animal species in forensic investigations. The focus species include large ruminants, small ruminants, carnivores, and equines.

Background and Purpose of the Study

  • The study emphasizes the neglected area of veterinary forensics, particularly the identification of animal hair, which can be crucial in certain legal and investigative contexts.
  • The researchers use scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) to examine the hair of different animal species and gather data that can aid in animal hair identification.

Methods and Materials

  • The animals involved in the research were large ruminants (buffalo and cattle), small ruminants (goat and sheep), carnivores (cat and dog), and equines (donkey and horse).
  • The two techniques used in the study – SEM and ED-XRF – helped the scientists understand the scale pattern, scale margin type, and distance between scales of hair in the different species.
  • Morphometric measurements also included cuticle layer thickness, scale height, cortex diameter, and hair shaft width.
  • The mineral content (elements) of the hair was also analyzed.

Key Findings

  • Scale patterns varied across species: large ruminants, goats, and horses had an imbricate pattern, carnivores and donkeys had a coronal pattern, while sheep had a spinous pattern.
  • Different species had varying levels of cuticle thickness, scale height, and cortex diameter, with horses having the thickest cuticle and buffalo having the largest cortex diameter.
  • The hair shaft width across all animal species ranged approximately between 23.78 ± 1.24 μm to 85.51 ± 1.14 μm.
  • Elemental analysis revealed species-specific elements like bromine in sheep and magnesium and phosphorus in buffalo, suggesting another layer of hair identification could be done with trace elements.

Conclusion

  • The study successfully demonstrated the application of SEM and ED-XRF in identifying distinct hair characteristics in various animal species.
  • The collected data can serve as a helpful reference for future forensic investigations involving animals. It potentially provides a systematic technique for animal hair identification that could be valuable for solving certain crimes or providing insights into interactions between animals and their environment.

Cite This Article

APA
Madkour FA, Abdelsabour-Khalaf M. (2022). Performance scanning electron microscopic investigations and elemental analysis of hair of the different animal species for forensic identification. Microsc Res Tech, 85(6), 2152-2161. https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.24073

Publication

Microscopy research and technique
ISSN: 1097-0029
NlmUniqueID: 9203012
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 85
Issue: 6
Pages: 2152-2161

Researcher Affiliations

Madkour, Fatma A
  • Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt.
Abdelsabour-Khalaf, Mohammed
  • Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cats
  • Cattle
  • Dogs
  • Electrons
  • Goats
  • Hair / ultrastructure
  • Horses
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Sheep
  • Species Specificity

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Madkour FA, Abdelsabour-Khalaf M. Morphological and ultrastructural features of the laryngeal mound of Egyptian Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis, Linnaeus, 1758).. BMC Zool 2022 Jul 29;7(1):44.
    doi: 10.1186/s40850-022-00147-4pubmed: 37170377google scholar: lookup
  2. Cloete KJ, Šmit Ž, Gianoncelli A. Multidimensional Profiling of Human Body Hairs Using Qualitative and Semi-Quantitative Approaches with SR-XRF, ATR-FTIR, DSC, and SEM-EDX.. Int J Mol Sci 2023 Feb 19;24(4).
    doi: 10.3390/ijms24044166pubmed: 36835578google scholar: lookup
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