Diatom Fingerprinting to Ascertain Death in Drowning Cases

Abstract

Diatoms are unicellular microorganisms which are commonly found in almost all water bodies. Their silica wall plays important tool in forensic diatomology. Diatom test has been widely applied to detect post mortem or antemortem drowning and comparing the diatoms found in biological sample with those found in water sample confirms that death took place, probably in same water medium. However, in skeletonized stage or dismemberment of body parts at different location, diatom of specific kind helps to link the place of drowning. Diatom fingerprinting was thus created studied for 2 years in water bodies of Haryana to differentiate commonly, least commonly found and seasonal diatoms. A total of 111 species and their 55 genera of diatoms were identified. Diatom genera which were commonly found at all the ten sites were Achnanthes, Asterionella, Aulacoseira, Cyclotella, Gomphonema, Navicula, Nitzschia, Synedra and Tabularia. Some of the diatoms were site specific such as, Cymatopleura, Opephora, and Capartogramma and Cyclotella. A new genus of diatom was discovered Eunocymbellarania vandana, which thus make it site specific. Study of seasonal and site specific diatoms at different sites may help in indicating time of drowning along with the location of drowning which would be very helpful for the scientific forensic investigation of drowning cases.