Efeitos subletais de um ansiolítico e duas substâncias alcoólicas no desenvolvimento de Chrysomya albiceps e Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Abstract

Forensic entomology uses insects to help crimes. Flies are the most commonly found colonizing corpses for their development cycle. In recent decades, the consumption of various substances has increased. These include alcoholic beverages, pharmaceuticals, and drugs of abuse. When a death occurs, such a substance remains in the tissues, where necrophagous insects will feed. Through toxicology, it is possible to detect and identify chemical compounds, but the stage of decomposition is a factor that prevents this procedure. Knowing that insects are present in the body, their use for such purposes is of great value. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the changes that occurred in the developmental cycle of the species Chrysomya albiceps and C. megacephala when exposed to benzodiazepine and ethanol. Second and third instar larvae of C. megacephala were collected in the composting sector of UFLA and were transferred to the Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Ecotoxicology (MEET) to establish the creation.Adult flies of C. albiceps were collected at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ-RJ), later identified at the Integrated Laboratory of Simuliids and Onchocerciasis & Medical and Forensic Entomology (LSOEMF- ICO), where a generation of juveniles up to the pupal stage was obtained to be transferred (nº89235-1 SISBio) to M.E.E.T. to establish the creation. The creations were kept in a climatized room (27±1o C, 12L:12D, RH 60 ± 10%). The F2 individuals hatched under laboratory conditions were awaited for the performance of toxicological experiments. Three concentrations were used for benzodiazepine treatment: 0.0625; 0.125 and 0.250 mg.L-1 of clonazepam (2.5 mg.mL-1), applied in 1mL in each treatment, and a control group. Ethanol was used in two ways Corote® and pure ethanol (97.0%) diluted to ethanol (39%), the volumes used were 50, 100, 150 and 200 µL, deionized water was also used and a control group, being applied 0.2mL in each treatment.Ground meat treated with the substances was used as the food substrate. Thirty larvae were placed per replicate, with four replicates per treatment. The parameters evaluated were the juvenile and adult stages and their respective durations. For clonazepam, the results showed a reduction in weight at all stages and a delay in development time at the lowest concentration. For ethanol, the results showed changes in development time and weight of the pupae. Thus, we conclude that the substances used cause physiological responses in flies during their development and such changes may interfere with the estimation of PMI.