Fluoxetine influence on the development of Calliphora vicina (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Abstract

Fluoxetine is a selective inhibitor of serotonin reuptake and can be found in clinical and forensic cases. Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Calliphoridae) is a dipteran of medical and forensic interest. To study the effect of fluoxetine on the development of C. vicina an acute lethal overdose of the drug was administered to a diet containing porcine muscle (model 1) and to Sus scrofa L. pigs (model 2). The duration of each stage of development, the length and the grosso modo external morphology of the specimens were recorded. Detection and quantification of the antidepressant was performed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The results obtained were the same regardless of the model used. There were no differences in the duration of developmental stages between fluoxetine treatment and control. The size and external morphology of the specimens did not show changes due to treatment with the drug. In conclusion, fluoxetine had no detectable effect on the development of C. vicina, so estimates of the postmortem interval would not be compromised if the drug is detected. In addition, the finding of fluoxetine in this species can provide information about death.