This Presentation is centred on the application of mycology in forensic Science; how we are able to make use of Fungi to solve criminal related issues.

1. FORENSIC MYCOLOGY:
The Use of Fungi in Criminal Investigation
BY
OLANIYI ABIDEEN ADIGUN
A SEMINAR PRESENTED TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE
FACULTY OF PURE AND APPLIED SCIENCES
KWARA STATE UNIVERSITY, MALETE, NIGERIA.
JUNE, 2021
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2.  Introduction
 Objectives
 When to consider forensic mycology
 Relationship with other forensic related disciplines
 Fungi of forensic capability
 Application of forensic mycology
 Conclusion
 Recommendation
 References
OUTLINE
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3.  Fungi are heterotrophic eukaryotes
 Mycology: is the study of fungi of all kinds
 Forensic: a term applied in investigation and establishment of facts.
 Forensic Mycology: use mycological evidence in criminal
investigations and its testing in the court of Law.
(Hawksworth and Wiltshire, 2011).
INTRODUCTION
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4. The Objectives of the study include;
 To know the fungi of forensic capability
 To support the needs for fungal expertise in areas of criminal
investigation.
 To know the application of mycology in forensic Science
OBJECTIVES
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5.  Uncertain time of death or deposition
 Fungal colonies are evident on human remains, clothing, or
associated items
 This is particularly important if entomology is not appropriate
 if fungi are present as well as flies, fungi can be considered as an
independent line of evidence.
 When mushrooms are found in the possessions of a suspect
 If fungi are being grown in mass-culture (e.g. in liquid growth media
in large containers)
(Hitosugi et al., 2006).
WHEN TO CONSIDER FORENSIC
MYCOLOGY
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6.  Mycology and Toxicology (Ramirez et al., 2012).
 Mycology and Pedology (Douglas, 2011).
 Mycology and Palynology (Sarjeant, 2002).
 Mycology and Taphonomy (Page, 2011).
(Hawksworth and Wiltshire, 2011).
RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER
FORENSIC DISCIPLINES
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7. (Kirk et al., 2008).
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8. (Sidrim et al., 2009).
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9. Figure 3. Human SMT (skeletal muscle tissues) showing abundant fungal growth
within days of inhumation
(Stokes et al.,2013). 9

10. Figure 4. Mycotoxins related illness postulated to affect both humans and
animals
(Kuhn and Ghannoum, 2003).
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11. Figure5: Greenish yellow patches of the fungus Penicillium
griseofulvum developed directly on the skin of a torso of a human cadaver.
(Hawksworth and Wiltshire, 2011).
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12. Figure 6. An example of fungal growth on defleshed human bone.
(Hawksworth and Wiltshire, 2011).
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13. Figure 7. Xanthoria parietina growing on Sambucusnigra (elder) twigs: (A)
natural growth in full illumination; (b) natural growth in deep shade
(underside of twig); (C) sample grown in full illumination but then covered
with a weighted object wrapped in opaque plastic for 5 days.
(Wiltshire, 2009).
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14.  Alternaria altemata
 Aspergillus fumigates
 Aspergillus gaucus
 Aspergillus niger complex
 Aureobasidium pullulans
 Chaetomium funicola
 Chaetomium globosum
 Cladosporiumcladosproriodis complex
 Cladosporium herbarum complex
 Doratomyces stemonitis
 Myxotrichum chartarum
(Harksworth and Wilthshire, 2015).
Examples of mold fungi associated
with indoor damp problems
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15.  Penicillum brevicompactum
 Scopulariopsis brevicaulis
 Sporobolomyces roseus
 Stachybrotrys chartarum
 Stachybrotrys echinata
 Stemphylium botyrosum
 Trichodema harzianum complex
 Ulocladium atrum
(Harksworth and Wilthshire ,2015).
Examples of mold fungi associated
with indoor damp problems
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16.  Byssochlamys nivea
 Geotrichum candidum
 Mucor haemalis
 Mucor plumbeus
 Penicillum brevicompactum
 Penicillum citrinium
 Pseudogymnoascus pannorum
(Sidrim et al., 2009).
Examples of mold species found on the
human skin of value in estimation of
postmortem intervals
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17.  Post mortem intervals(Time since death)
 Location of corpses
 Time of deposition
 Investigating cause of death
 Biological Warfare
 Providing Trace evidence
(Lee et al., 2011).
APPLICATION OF FORENSIC
MYCOLOGY
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18. It is evident that mycology has much to contribute to the investigation of
both criminal and civil cases, (particularly for insurance fraud).The
applications discussed here are not suggestions of possibilities yet to be
explored, but ones which have been used in actual cases and tested in the
courts.
In order to further realize the potential, It will be necessary for investigators
to be more aware of the possibilities provided by spores and whole fungi
and recognize situations where mycological evidence might provide critical
evidences.
The timing of events, evidential value of fungi, evaluation of psychotropic
substance and assessment of soil profiles should be put into consideration
by the investigator.
CONCLUSION
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19. Efforts should be intensified on the development of mycology in
forensic science. Forensic mycology should be employed to
complement evidence in terms of criminal investigation and their further
evaluation in the court of Law.
The use of mycology in criminal investigation has been proven to be of
importance in situations where mycological evidence is found on and
around a crime scene.
The problem with relative neglect of mycology in Forensic science is
currently leading to insufficient knowledge, in order to support the
needs for fungal expertise in areas of criminal investigation.
RECOMMENDATION
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20. Hawksworth DL.(2015). Naming fungi involved in spoilage of food, drink, and
water. Current Opinion of Food Science; 5: 23–28.
Ramirez, M. A. J., Voigt, K. and Peters, T. (2012) ‘Studies on the metabolism
of five model drugs by fungi colonizing cadavers using LC-ESI-
MS/MSand GC-MS analysis’ Analytical and Bioanalytical
Chemistry;404:1339-1359.
Sagara, N., Yamanaka, T. and Tibbett, M. (2008) Soil fungi associated with
graves and latrines: toward a forensic mycology. In: Tibbett, M. and
Carter, D.O. ed. Soil analysis in forensic taphonomy: chemical and
biological effects of buried human remains. Boca Raton, FL: CRC
Press; 3: 67–108.
Stokes, L. K., Forbes, L. S. and Tibbett, M. (2013)Human Versus
Animal: Contrasting Decomposition Dynamics of Mammalian
Analogues in Experimental Taphonomy’ Journal of Forensic
Sciences; 58: 583–591.
SELECTED REFERENCES
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