Major organ loss from post-mortem animal predation: Issues arising from emptied body cavities.

Medicine, Science, and the Law
Roger W Byard

Abstract

The feeding of animals on bodies after death - so-called post-mortem animal predation - may complicate autopsy interpretations when there has been removal of significant amounts of skin and tissues. An extreme situation which sometimes arises is the complete evisceration and/or consumption of all major cavity organs. Search of autopsy files at Forensic Science South Australia was undertaken for examples of this phenomenon. Although such a finding at autopsy may suggest the actions of larger animals such as dogs or sharks, it may also occur when groups of smaller animals, such as cats, act in concert. Complete loss of organs may also occur if significant insect activity accompanies decomposition. Empty body cavities may therefore result from of a wide variety of animal activities involving a range of species in quite different environments. A significant problem once organs have been removed or consumed is in identifying or excluding natural diseases or injuries that may have played a role in the lethal episode.

References

Sep 16, 2000·The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology·R W ByardK Brown
Aug 29, 2002·The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology·Roger W ByardJohn D Gilbert
Jan 11, 2007·Forensic Science International : Synergy·Dawnie Wolfe Steadman, Heather Worne
May 26, 2007·The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology·Roger W Byard, Michael Tsokos
May 3, 2011·Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology·C BuschmannM Tsokos
Jul 30, 2011·Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology·Roger W Byard
Jul 30, 2014·Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine·Roger W Byard, Karen J Heath
Dec 1, 2006·Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology·Barbara KoszycaRoger W Byard
May 25, 2016·Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology·Sameera A Gunawardena
Aug 5, 2016·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Terence J Sinton, Roger W Byard
May 4, 2017·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Michala K StockGeorge H Burgess
Jul 3, 2017·Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology·Anna Mądra-BielewiczSzymon Matuszewski
Oct 28, 2017·Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology·James F Wallman
Mar 14, 2018·Forensic Science International : Synergy·Toru OshimaSohtaro Mimasaka
Sep 6, 2020·Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology·Roger W Byard

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