Forensic science international. Animals and environments最新文献

{"title":"Conservation-focused biobanks: A valuable resource for wildlife DNA forensics","authors":"Sílvia Pérez-Espona ,&nbsp;the CryoArks Consortium","doi":"10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100017","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100017","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Wildlife crime continues to pose a great threat to animal and plant populations and their environments. Among the different disciplines striving to halt the current biodiversity crisis, wildlife forensics has become instrumental in combating wildlife crime, with the application of DNA forensics methods to the gathering of evidence and intelligence for investigations gaining increasing importance. The wide range of services offered by wildlife DNA forensics laboratories requires the development of diagnostic genetic markers and robust molecular genetics protocols to ensure that any evidence gathered can withstand scrutiny in court. Appropriately vouchered reference samples are crucial for the generation of robust wildlife forensics DNA data; however, access to these reference samples for rare, endangered species, or those inhabiting remote areas, can be challenging. Here, we highlight the importance of conservation and research-focused biobanks as a source to obtain adequate reference samples for wildlife DNA forensics. Furthermore, we encourage collaboration between wildlife forensic geneticists and conservation and research-focused biobanks, as well as the sharing of digital DNA among the wildlife forensics community, as strategies to overcome the challenges associated with sample and DNA data acquisition and hence accelerate the successful implementation of law enforcement for combating wildlife crime.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":93435,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international. Animals and environments","volume":"1 ","pages":"Article 100017"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100017","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"110196567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Application of an established canine genotyping method to a sequence-based approach","authors":"Julia S. Allwood ,&nbsp;Erin Meredith ,&nbsp;Christina Lindquist ,&nbsp;Matthew Breen","doi":"10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100029","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100029","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The advancement and accessibility of high throughput sequencing platforms have transformed forensic biology, with sequence-based genotyping of various genetic markers being widely validated for use. A key requirement for the successful implementation of such an approach for genotyping short tandem repeat (STR) loci is backward compatibility with existing databases derived from conventional capillary electrophoresis (CE). Other advantages of a sequence-based approach include novel allele discovery and increased allelic diversity. While sequence-based STR genotyping of human material is now relatively common in forensic biology, this approach for genotyping other animal species for forensic applications has been slower to emerge.</p><p>Here we present proof-of-concept and concordance data for the sequencing of a canine STR panel for forensic applications. Sequence-based genotyping using the Mini-DogFiler panel is presented herein, including a bioinformatics pipeline for genotype calling. Allele discovery is presented as well as backward compatibility of sequence-based data with CE-derived genotypes of the same samples using the DogFiler and/or the Mini-DogFiler panel(s). The recorded CE genotypes, which included domestic dog and wolf samples, were compared to those generated using the sequence-based approach. General database statistics were evaluated across samples and included a comparison of the number of unique genotypes and alleles observed when using CE genotyping as compared to sequencing. The results demonstrate this method as being concordant and backward compatible to traditionally generated CE data. With additional developmental validation work, this approach offers a unique and timely addition to the suite of tools available for use to support animal and wildlife forensic science.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":93435,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international. Animals and environments","volume":"1 ","pages":"Article 100029"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100029","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43377134","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unusual case of automutilation in a free-ranging grey wolf (Canis lupus)","authors":"Friederike Behr ,&nbsp;Guido Fritsch ,&nbsp;Sebastian Collet ,&nbsp;Najmussher Ghani ,&nbsp;Berardino Cocchiararo ,&nbsp;Konstantin Knorr ,&nbsp;Thomas Müller ,&nbsp;Conrad Freuling ,&nbsp;Jana Sprenger ,&nbsp;Claudia A. Szentiks","doi":"10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100019","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In Germany, all information about the Central European Lowland Wolf population is aggregated by the Federal Documentation and Consultation Centre on Wolves (DBBW). The dataset on wolves found dead was an important source of supplementary information for this study in particular. In January 2020, our examination of a wolf cadaver revealed a vertebral fracture that caused a complete severance of the spinal cord. Furthermore, the presence of a canid claw in the stomach of the specimen indicated that we encountered a rare case of automutilation in a wild animal, which was subsequently confirmed when the genetic analysis determined that the claw belonged to the examined wolf.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":93435,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international. Animals and environments","volume":"1 ","pages":"Article 100019"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100019","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72257883","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigation into the illegal killing of a tagged Eurasian Curlew","authors":"Frédéric Jiguet ,&nbsp;Dylan Duby ,&nbsp;Aude Bourgeois ,&nbsp;Frédéric Robin ,&nbsp;Pierre Rousseau ,&nbsp;Griet Nijs ,&nbsp;Jérôme Fuchs ,&nbsp;Romain Lorrillière ,&nbsp;Pierrick Bocher","doi":"10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>On 9 August 2020, one of 10 tagged Eurasian curlews we tracked with GPS died on Ile Madame, France, and we managed to collect the corpse for further analyses. Our investigation proved that the bird was shot, as x-ray imagery revealed a single lead ball under the bill skin, while the bill had been recently broken. The study of the GPS tracks during the last days and hours of the bird’s life indicated a normal foraging activity during the previous night. The bird moved to the high tide roosting bank of Ile Madame during the night, and was shot to death at sunrise. Directed intentionally or not towards the curlew, the shot was the cause of the death. The Eurasian Curlew is endangered to extinction, and as such is not huntable anymore across Europe. With an adult survival estimated at 92 %, any additional adult mortality can have a noticeable impact on population dynamics, hence on extinction risk. For the sample of 10 adult curlews we tagged, this single additional mortality by illegal shooting theoretically doubles the annual mortality rate. The tagged individual belonged to the small threatened Belgian breeding population estimated to count 170–230 breeding pairs.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":93435,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international. Animals and environments","volume":"1 ","pages":"Article 100005"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100005","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72258417","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Forensic investigation of a hunting incident of Indian porcupine (Hystrix indica) in Uttarakhand: A study to help rein in biodiversity loss","authors":"Ved Prakash Kumar ,&nbsp;Ankita Rajpoot ,&nbsp;Anjali Gupta ,&nbsp;Sargam Singh Rasaily","doi":"10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Across the world, hunting is one of the main causes of the decline in populations of wild vertebrates. This activity has serious effects not only on the specific, target populations but also on the dynamics and structures of other animal populations. Often the only evidence available for successful prosecution of poachers is in the form of small pieces of skin, bone, and meat. In such cases, forensic investigations can irrefutably establish the identity of the species involved in the illegal hunting by using genetic technologies.</p><p>This articles describes an investigative study in a suspected wildlife hunting incident in which molecular biology techniques were employed to identify the species involved. Using fragments of cytochrome <em>b</em> (Cyt b) and 12S ribosomal RNA (12S rRNA) mitochondrial markers, the samples were confirmed to be from an IUCN Red List species, the Indian porcupine (<em>Hystrix indica</em>).This is the first genetic record of an Indian porcupine from the Uttarakhand population.</p><p>The genetic analysis in this study was suitable for diagnosing the species and concluding a criminal investigation. Molecular forensic techniques can, therefore, provide an important tool that enables local law enforcement agencies to apprehend poachers. Meanwhile the present study represents a small step in reducing the hunting of porcupine in Uttarakhand as well as other adjoining states, with the aim of conserving biodiversity.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":93435,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international. Animals and environments","volume":"1 ","pages":"Article 100002"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100002","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72258419","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Untangling a cat’s cradle: Diphacinone, acetaminophen, trauma, and multiple deaths in a Kentucky cat colony","authors":"Megan C. Romano,&nbsp;Uneeda K. Bryant,&nbsp;Lynne M.C. Cassone,&nbsp;Jennifer G. Janes,&nbsp;Michelle N. Helm,&nbsp;Kyle A. Francis","doi":"10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100012","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100012","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This manuscript describes an animal cruelty investigation in which several cats from a feral colony were suspected of having been poisoned. Three of the cats were submitted for complete postmortem examination by a qualified veterinary pathologist, and appropriate toxicologic analyses were selected and interpreted by a qualified veterinary toxicologist. Diagnosis in poisoning cases requires communication and collaboration between the pathologists and the toxicologist. A truly definitive diagnosis is not always possible in poisoning cases, particularly in a forensic investigation – a court of law requires a higher standard to establish a cause of death than do routine diagnostic cases. This case series illustrates the importance of a thorough diagnostic workup in forensic animal death investigations.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":93435,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international. Animals and environments","volume":"1 ","pages":"Article 100012"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100012","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"102188029","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Using hybridization capture to obtain mitochondrial genomes from forensically relevant North American canids: Assessing sequence variation for species identification","authors":"Melissa K.R. Scheible ,&nbsp;Dyan J. Straughan ,&nbsp;Mary K. Burnham-Curtis ,&nbsp;Kelly A. Meiklejohn","doi":"10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100018","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100018","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The majority of DNA casework processed by forensic laboratories focuses on human samples, but material from canids (dogs, wolves, coyotes) can also be encountered. Undomesticated canids can be the center of forensic investigations in the U.S. since some species are endangered. As many wolf species are similar morphologically, identification in the field by wildlife officers is not always straight-forward, making molecular based-approaches ideal. While some published methods using mitochondrial DNA targets can discriminate among <em>Canis</em> species, they are either not compatible with highly degraded samples or cannot differentiate closely related sub-species. Although some U.S. laboratories regularly perform veterinary/wildlife casework including canid identifications, their validated methods and reference genetic databases are not publicly available. We aimed to assess the utility of alternative regions in the mitochondrial genome for discriminating among canid species, including the complete genome. To achieve this, we utilized a commercial hybridization capture panel composed of biotinylated RNA “baits” designed for the domestic dog to enrich canid mitochondrial genomes for next-generation sequencing. We used this panel to successfully sequence complete mitochondrial genomes for 51 samples, representing four U.S. forensically relevant canids (coyote, wolf, Mexican wolf, dog). While the complete mitochondrial genome permitted discrimination, we also assessed previously published mitochondrial DNA targets (n, 5) for resolution and identified four alternate ∼200 bp fragments from <em>ND1</em>, <em>ND5</em>, <em>COI</em> and <em>CYTB</em> genes that could help resolve canids. The utility of these alternate regions should be assessed in future studies using forensic-type samples representing canids from diverse geographic areas, prior to casework implementation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":93435,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international. Animals and environments","volume":"1 ","pages":"Article 100018"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100018","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"97371315","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Countering plant crime online: Cross-disciplinary collaboration in the FloraGuard study","authors":"D. Whitehead ,&nbsp;C.R. Cowell ,&nbsp;A. Lavorgna ,&nbsp;S.E. Middleton","doi":"10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The illegal online trade in plants has potentially devastating impacts upon species poached for sale in digital markets, yet the scale of this threat to endangered species of flora remains relatively undetermined. Effectively monitoring and analysing the online trade in plants, requires an efficient means of searching the vastness of cyberspace, and the expertise to differentiate legal from potentially illegal wildlife trade (IWT). Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers a means of improving the efficiency of both search and analysis techniques, although the complexities of wildlife trade, and the need to monitor thousands of different species, makes the automation of this technology extremely challenging. In this contribution, we review a novel socio-technical approach to addressing this problem. Combining expertise in information and communications technology, criminology, law enforcement and conservation science, this cross-disciplinary technique combines AI algorithms with human judgement and expertise, to search for and iteratively analyse potentially relevant online content. We suggest that by coupling the scalability of search algorithms with a sufficient level of human input required to evaluate wildlife trade data, the proposed methodological approach offers significant advantages over manual search techniques. We conclude by examining the high level of cross-disciplinary collaboration required to develop this technique, which may provide a useful case study for conservation practitioners and law enforcement agencies, seeking to tackle this technology-driven threat to biodiversity.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":93435,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international. Animals and environments","volume":"1 ","pages":"Article 100007"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100007","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"93772377","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Morphological species identification of wildlife forensic evidence based on digital images","authors":"Pepper W. Trail","doi":"10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100021","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100021","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Species identifications of wildlife items from digital images are critical to many wildlife crime investigations. Digital images downloaded from social media or cell phones may be the only wildlife evidence available for examination. In other cases, examination of emailed photographs by morphological experts may provide probable cause for seizure of suspect items in time-sensitive situations such as customs inspections.</p><p>This paper outlines protocols to document provisional identifications from emailed photos, and to assure the integrity of digital images submitted as evidence. These are based on the practices followed at the National Fish and Wildlife Laboratory (NFWFL) of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement (OLE).</p></div>","PeriodicalId":93435,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international. Animals and environments","volume":"1 ","pages":"Article 100021"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100021","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"112759265","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Limitations of DNA barcoding in determining the origin of smuggled seahorses and pipefishes","authors":"Conny P. Serite ,&nbsp;Ofentse K. Ntshudisane ,&nbsp;Eugene Swart ,&nbsp;Luisa Simbine ,&nbsp;Graça L.M. Jaime ,&nbsp;Peter R. Teske","doi":"10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Seahorses and pipefishes are heavily exploited for use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and less frequently for curio markets or as aquarium fish. A number of recent studies have used DNA barcoding to identify species sold at TCM markets in East Asia, but the usefulness of this approach in determining the region of origin remains poorly explored. Here, we generated DNA barcodes of dried seahorses and pipefishes destined for TCM that were confiscated at South Africa’s largest airport because they lacked the export permits required for the CITES-listed seahorses. These were compared with published sequences and new sequences generated for Mozambican seahorses, with the aim of determining whether it is possible to identify their country of origin. All pipefishes were identified as <em>Syngnathoides biaculeatus</em>, a widespread Indo-Pacific species, but the published sequence data did not provide sufficient resolution to identify the country of origin. The same was true of the majority of seahorses, which could not even be identified to species level because they clustered among an unresolved species complex whose sequences were published under the names <em>Hippocampus kuda</em> and <em>H. fuscus</em>. The presence of a few specimens of a second seahorse, <em>H. camelopardalis</em>, suggests that the shipment originated from East Africa because the range of this seahorse is centred around this region, but it was not possible to determine from which East African country they originated. Even though seahorses and pipefishes have high levels of genetic population structure because of their low dispersal potential, DNA barcoding was only suitable to tentatively identify species, but not their country of origin. DNA barcoding is increasingly used to identify illegally traded wildlife, but our results show that more sophisticated methods are needed to monitor and police the trade in seahorses and pipefishes.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":93435,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international. Animals and environments","volume":"1 ","pages":"Article 100006"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1016/j.fsiae.2021.100006","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136476945","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}