Application of Diatoms Quantitative Analysis in the Diagnosis of Drowning

doi:10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2021.410707

Abstract

Abstract: Objective

To retrospectively analyze diatom test cases of corpses in water and discuss the value of quantitative analysis of diatoms in the diagnosis of drowning.

Methods

A total of 490 cases of water-related death were collected. They were divided into drowning group and postmortem immersion group according to the cause of death. Diatoms in lung, liver, kidney tissue and water sample were analyzed quantitatively by microwave digestion-vacuum filtration-automated scanning electron microscopy （MD-VF-Auto SEM） method. The ratios of content of diatoms in lung tissue and water sample （C_L/C_D） were calculated.

Results

The results of diatom test for three organs （lung, liver and kidney） were all positive in 400 cases （85.5%）; the content of diatom in lung, liver, kidney tissues, and water samples of drowning group were （113 235.9±317 868.1）, （26.7±75.6）, （23.3±52.2） and （12 113.3±21 760.0） cells/10 g, respectively; the species of diatom were （7.5±2.8）, （2.6±1.9）, （2.9±2.1） and （8.9±3.0） types, respectively; the C_L/C_D of drowning group and postmortem immersion group were （100.6±830.7） and （0.3±0.4）, respectively.

Conclusion

Quantitative analysis of diatoms can provide supportive evidence for the diagnosis of drowning, and the parameter C_L/C_D can be introduced into the analysis to make a more accurate diagnosis of drowning.

Key words: forensic pathology, drowning, diatom test, quantitative analysis, microwave digestion-vacuum filtration-automated scanning electron microscopy method

CLC Number:

DF795.1

Yu-kun DU, Tian-ye ZHANG, Jing-jian LIU, Chao LIU, Xiao-dong KANG, Dong-yun ZHENG, He SHI, Qu-yi XU, Kai-jun MA, Jian ZHAO. Application of Diatoms Quantitative Analysis in the Diagnosis of Drowning[J]. Journal of Forensic Medicine, 2022, 38(1): 110-113.

Figures/Tables 2

Tab. 1 The CL/CD between drowning group and postmortem immersion group

组别	例数	C_L/C_D值
组别	例数	$x ˉ$ ±s	中位数	≤1	>1~<2	≥2
合计	405	-	-	128	31	246
溺死	390	100.6±830.7^1）	4.9	115	29	246
死后入水	15	0.3±0.4	0.3	13	2	0

Tab. 1 The CL/CD between drowning group and postmortem immersion group

组别	例数	C_L/C_D值
组别	例数	$x ˉ$ ±s	中位数	≤1	>1~<2	≥2
合计	405	-	-	128	31	246
溺死	390	100.6±830.7^1）	4.9	115	29	246
死后入水	15	0.3±0.4	0.3	13	2	0

Tab. 2 The CL/CD of drowning group

水样中硅藻含量/（个·10 g^-1）	例数	C_L/C_D值
<100	23	570.3±1 844.8
100~1 000	56	349.3±1 816.2
1 000~10 000	203	27.2±87.9
>10 000	108	9.4±18.7

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