Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

Volume: 55 Issue: 1

  • Open Access
  • Research Article

Estimation of postmortem interval using vitreous potassium levels in dogs

S. Devika1, M. Pradeep1*, A. J. George1, R. Anoopraj2, R. Rajasekhar3, P. Hamza1, O. Pranav4 and P. N. Athira1

1. Department of VeterinaryPathology College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookode, Wayanad-673576 Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University Kerala, India

2. College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur

3. Department of Veterinary Microbiology, CVAS, Pookode

4. Department of Statistics, CVAS,Pookode

*Corresponding author: [email protected], Ph.9447945170

Year: 2024, Page: 156-159, Doi: https://doi.org/10.51966/jvas.2024.55.1.156-159

Received: Oct. 13, 2023 Accepted: Dec. 27, 2023 Published: March 31, 2024

Abstract

Post-mortem interval (PMI) is the time elapsed between death and the discovery of the body and its estimation is crucial in forensic pathology investigations. Numerous methods are available for PMI estimation. In humans, the vitreous potassium concentration (K+) has shown promise. The usefulness of the method in the estimation of PMI in dogs is explored in the current study. 25 dog carcasses were studied at the Department of Veterinary Pathology, CVAS, Pookode, Kerala and vitreous humour samples were collected and potassium concentration was quantified using the ion-selective electrode method. Concurrently, ambient temperatures were recorded. Our findings unveiled a significant positive correlation between vitreous potassium concentration and PMI. We derived an equation that incorporates ambient temperature. This equation serves as a valuable tool for field veterinarians, enabling them to estimate PMI in dog carcasses up to 96 hours. Consequently, vitreous humour emerges as a distinctive biosignature for accurate PMI estimation in dogs.

Keywords: Post-mortem interval, vitreous humour, potassium, dog, ambient temperature

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Cite this article

: Devika, S., Pradeep, M., George, A.J., Anoopraj, R., Rajasekhar, R., Hamza, P., Pranav, O. and Athira, P.N.2024. Estimation of post-mortem interval using vitreous potassium levels in dogs. J. Vet. Anim. Sci. 55(1):156-159

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51966/jvas.2024.55.1.156-159

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