Forensic Parasitology: a New Frontier in Criminalistics

Overview

Journal Forensic Sci Res

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Forensic Sciences

Date 2024 Jun 7

PMID 38846987

Authors

Mackenzie L Kwak

James F Wallman

Darren Yeo

Melanie S Archer

Ryo Nakao

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Parasites are ubiquitous, diverse, and have close interactions with humans and other animals. Despite this, they have not garnered significant interest from forensic scientists, and their utility as indicators in criminal investigations has been largely overlooked. To foster the development of forensic parasitology we explore the utility of parasites as forensic indicators in five broad areas: (i) wildlife trafficking and exploitation, (ii) biological attacks, (iii) sex crimes, (iv) criminal neglect of humans and other animals, and (v) indicators of movement and travel. To encourage the development and growth of forensic parasitology as a field, we lay out a four-step roadmap to increase the use and utility of parasites in criminal investigations.

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