Final Year Project Proposal[1]

8/2/2019 Final Year Project Proposal[1]

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University for Development Studies

Faculty of Applied Sciences (FAS)

Department of Applied Chemistry &Biochemistry

TOPIC

DETERMINATION OF DIAZEPAM LEVELS INLARVAE OF NUCROPAGOUS FLIES REARED ON

RABBIT CARCASSES IN NAVRONGO

Presented by :Ofori-Amanfo Dennis

FAS/2552/08


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Introduction Insects are the first organism that colonized on death bodies

(carcasses). They colonize on death bodies not only to feed but also to lay their

eggs.

Due to this insects are used to determine postmortem interval (PMI)especially when the discovery of the corpse is delayed and the softtissues are decomposed which is of important in forensic investigation.

Drug levels in larvae could also be correlated to drug concentrations intissues eaten by the insects, providing valuable information to elucidatethe cause of death. (Nolte KB, Pinder RD, Lord WD (1992) insectlarvae used to detect cocaine poisoning in decomposed bodies)

The larval behavior toward several substances is unsure; consequently,their use for qualitative identification and quantitative analysis of drugs

or toxins are strongly limited (Sadler DW, Richardson J, Haigh S, BruceG, Pounder DJ (1997) Amitriptyline accumulation and elimination inCalliphora vicina larvae. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 18:397-403


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INTRO CONTDOWN

Benzodiazepine drugs are readily available ondrug stores. They can be classified into shortintermediate and longacting compounds.

Diazepam is included in the long duration group

and it is widely prescribed as an anti anxiety ,antispasmodic and antiepileptic drug. Its one ofthe tranquilizer drugs mostly associated with

unexpected death in most part of the world causedby drug overdose. ( Baselt RC (2004) Dispositionof toxic drugs and chemicals in man, 7th edn. )


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Justification

Death can be attributed to four main causes

Homicide

Suicide

Accidental

Natural deathAs a result of these occurrences of death there has been the

need of forensic pathology to

Identify the causes of death

Determine the identity of the victim Discover any pre-existing conditions

To determine manner of death

Estimate the time of death (PMI)


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AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to evaluate the reliabilityof insect larvae as samples for toxicologicalinvestigations.

This study deals with the effect of diazepam onthe rate and pattern of development on the larvaeof necrophagous flies.

It also concerns, the detection of diazepam levelsin larvae of necrophagous flies, correlationsbetween drug concentrations in the rabbits tissuesand its concentrations in the larvae fed on thosetissues.


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Method

Male rabbits of a known weight is used as testanimal for the administration by ear veininjection of pure diazepam

Rabbits are then sacrificed mechanically, with noexternal lesions.

Carcasses are then placed on decomposition siteslocated within UDS campus Navrongo.

Carcasses are then covered individual withprotective metal cage

The experiment started after the carcasses areintroduced to the site


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Sample collection

Larvae are collected from both test and

control group using sampling bottle, forceps,

spoon and are preserved in bottle water

containing 70% ethanol

Body tissues as well as fluids are collected for

chemical analysis on diazepam concentration.


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CHEIMICALS TO BE USE

ETHANOL

BORATE BUFFER

BORIC ACID POTASSIUM CHLORIDE

TERT-BUTYL METHYL ETHER

BROMOTHYLMOL SODIUM HYDROXIDE


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EXPECTED RESULTS

Larvae fed on tissue containing some kind of drug orsubstance, there are two processes that may happen. That is

BIOACCUMULATION

EXCRETION

Of the drug and its metabolites.IN THE CASE OF DIAZEPAM THERE IS BIOACCUMULATION SINCE

Larvae of species that feeds on sample containing diazepamdevelop more rapidly than the control ones.

DIAZEPAM could be detected not only in maggot samples but

also in puparia and adults this mean the drug affect the flydevelopment from the larvae stage until the total mortality ofadults.


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References

Baselt RC (2004) Disposition of toxic drugs

and chemicals in man, 7th edn.

Kintz p, Tracqui A, Mangin P (1990b)

Toxicology and fly larva on a putrefied

cadaver. J Forensic science society 34:243-246

Nolte KB, Pinder RD, Lord WD (1992) insect

larvae used to detect cocaine poisoning in

decomposed bodies

Documents

Final Year Project Proposal[1]