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Ngando FJ, Zhang X, Qu H, Xiao J, Ren L, Yang F, Feng Y, Shang Y, Chen S, Zhang C, Guo Y. Age determination of Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera: Calliphoridae) using lifespan patterns, gene expression, and pteridine concentration under constant and variable temperatures. Forensic Sci Int 2024; 354:111916. [PMID: 38141350 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), is a blowfly species widely studied in medical, veterinary, and entomological research. Our study examined the impact of constant (15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 °C) and variable (ranging from 21.0 to 25.4 °C, with an average of 23.31 °C) temperatures on the development and larval body length of C. megacephala. Additionally, we analyzed the age of the adult C. megacephala through pteridine content and related metabolic genes analysis. Our findings revealed three distinct growth patterns: isomorphen diagram, isomegalen diagram, and thermal accumulated models. At constant temperatures of 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 °C, egg-hatching times were 44.5 ± 8.9, 26.7 ± 4.6, 12.6 ± 1.1, 11.0 ± 1.0, and 9.9 ± 1.9 h, respectively, while it was 15.3 ± 5.9 h at variable temperatures. The total development times from oviposition to adult eclosion in C. megacephala required 858.1 ± 69.2, 362.3 ± 5.9, 289.6 ± 17.8, 207.3 ± 9.3, and 184.7 ± 12.1 h at constant temperatures of 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 °C, respectively. This duration was extended to 282.0 ± 64.1 h under variable temperatures. However, no significant differences were found in hatching times and the total developmental durations between 25 °C and variable temperatures. A developmental threshold temperature (D0) of 9.90 ± 0.77 °C and a thermal summation constant (K) of 4244.0 ± 347.0° hours were ascertained. Pteridine content patterns varied significantly across constant temperatures, but not between 25 °C and variable temperatures. Sex and temperature were identified as the primary factors influencing pteridine levels in the head of C. megacephala. Gene expression associated with pteridine metabolism decreased following adult eclosion, matching with increased pteridine concentration. Further investigations are needed to explore the use of pteridine cofactors for age-grading adult necrophagous flies. These findings provide valuable insights into the lifespan of C. megacephala, thereby offering valuable groundwork for forthcoming investigations and PMImin determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernand Jocelin Ngando
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Xiangyan Zhang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Hongke Qu
- Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Jiao Xiao
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Lipin Ren
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Fengqin Yang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Yakai Feng
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Yanjie Shang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Sile Chen
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Changquan Zhang
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Yadong Guo
- Department of Forensic Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China.
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