Análise do uso de carcaças em estudos sobre entomologia forense no Brasil

Abstract

The use of animal carcasses as experimental models in forensic entomology studies originated from investigations aimed at analyzing decomposition through the interaction with insects, simulating human decomposition conditions. In Brazil, starting in the 2000s, publications on the subject began to focus on experimentation in controlled environments, emphasizing the colonization of necrophagous entomological fauna and its importance for estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI). Since then, the use of carcasses has gained prominence due to its significant relevance in criminal investigations. Based on this, this study aimed to conduct an analysis over the last ten years (2013 to 2023) of studies involving carcasses for the application of forensic entomology in Brazil. The methodology involved selecting publications indexed in academic databases and including keywords related to the area of inquiry. A total of 50 publications were included, with the majority in English (96%) and published in international journals (74%). The years 2014, 2015, and 2019 were the most productive in terms of publication quantity, while 2020 had the fewest. The states with the highest concentration of studies were Pernambuco, Minas Gerais, and Paraíba. The most commonly used carcass type was the domestic pig (Sus scrofa), followed by small vertebrates such as rats and rabbits. Regarding methodologies, metal traps were widely used, along with traps designed to prevent the action of necrophagous vertebrates, also assisting in the capture of insects. This analysis contributes to understanding the current state of forensic entomology in Brazil, serving as a guide for future research. It is important to relate results obtained from animal models with studies conducted on human cadavers in order to make experiments of this nature more reliable. Furthermore, it reinforces the importance of producing new works, especially in regions and methodologies that are still underexplored, such as different environmental or circumstantial conditions.