Determination of Clostridium perfringenes in the Liver of Women and Men after Death as an Indicator for Postmortem Interval

Most medical research to estimate the time interval after death depends on the physicochemical properties of the decomposition and the effects that environmental factors have on the decomposition process, but microorganisms settle in larger hosts and change over time. Found and known as microbial populations of decaying human bodies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the presence of Clostridium perfringens in the liver of male and female corpses as an indicator for measuring the elapsed time of death.

In this experimental study that was conducted in 2019, 34 human bodies were found in different ways such as; Murder, suicide and suspected death. Samples were prepared and after homogenization cultured on blood agar and SPS media under anaerobic conditions using pack gas in Kendel Jar. Afterward they were characterized using gram staining, catalase and oxidase, and other diagnostic tests such as hemolysis, stormy fermentation, and nagler tests. Then for the confirmation of presence of Clostridum PCR was done using standard isolates from Razi Institute with code No: ATCC 13124 and finally relationship between the isolated bacterium and death process were evaluated.

The results obtained from the tests indicated that 8 bacterial strains were isolated from which 2 isolates were Gram negative, 2 isolates were Gram positive with different characterization of  Clostridium and 4 strains belonged to Clostridium based on 16SrRNA gene and product size of 722bp. In the samples taken, the time after death was reported to be between 19 and 192 hours according to the information contained in the files of the deceased by forensic medicine. In all four isolated samples, the time after death was determined to be more than 50 hours.

Although in normal condition it could be estimated the time of death according to examination of the body, freezing a corpse, cyanosis of the corpse and coldness of the body, but according to the results obtained from this study it could be concluded that There is a relationship between the presence of Clostridium strain in the liver and the time elapsed since death.