The use of two fly species to detect the anti-depressant Fluoxetine post-mortem (Diptera:Calliphoridae: Lucilia sericata Meigen, Sarcophagidae: Sarcophaga crassipalpis Macquart)

Abstract

The study of insects of forensic interest with the purpose of qualitatively and/or quantitatively detecting toxic substances is called forensic entomotoxicology. The present study was conducted to detect and quantify fluoxetine from Diptera. Larvae of Lucilia sericata Meigen (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and Sarcophaga crassipalpis Macquart (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) were reared on pig muscle previously treated with fluoxetine (2000 mg/kg). Samples of larvae on third stage, pupae and puparia were removed after certain periods of time. Fluoxetine was detected and quantified in larvae and pupae of both species by using UV spectrophotometry at 270 and 277 nm. No significant differences were found between all the samples of both species. Also puparia of L. sericata were analyzed and positive for fluoxetine.