APPLICATION OF A SIMPLE ENZYMATIC DIGESTION METHOD FOR DIATOM DETECTION IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF DROWNING IN PUTRIFIED CORPSES BY DIATOM ANALYSIS

The reliability and applicability of quantitative and qualitative diat om analysis by an enzymatic digestion method in the diagnosis of drown ing of putrified bodies has been evaluated. The authors report the ana lysis of water and organ samples of 12 immersion cases using light mic roscopy. This study included control samples from the bodies of person s who died from causes other than drowning. Organ samples were treated by both chemical and enzymatic methods, the first one using concentra ted nitric acid and the second proteinase K. Diatoms were present in m ost organ samples of the immersed corpses; no diatoms could be found i n the control samples. Our experience was that the enzymatic method se emed to be more convenient in terms of rapidity, safety and environmen tal protection than chemical digestion. The number of diatoms recovere d with both methods was similar. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of bath water and organ samples of immersion cases supported the diag nosis of death by drowning in 41.6% of the putrified cases studied. Th e authors suggest that diatom analysis using enzymatic digestion of or gans can be used as a criterion for positive diagnosis of drowning in cases involving putrified bodies.