Publications by authors named "Syamsa R"

Chrysomya megacephala larvae can easily be identified using cheap traditional microscopy techniques. Nevertheless, identification using taxonomy keys may be hampered, if the morphological characteristics of the larvae are incomplete, or immature for microscopic identification. To overcome the difficulty of species determination, molecular identification has gained relevance and is applied in forensic investigations.

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Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus serves as an important ectoparasite of livestock and a vector of several pathogens resulting in diseases, subsequently affecting the agricultural field as well as the economy. The extensive use of synthetic acaricides is known to cause resistance over time and therefore a much safer, effective and environmentally friendly alternative to overcome tick infestation should be implemented. Larval immersion tests (LIT) were done to evaluate the effects of Citrus hystrix (Family: Rutaceae) and Cymbopogon citratus (Family: Poaceae) essential oils (EOs) for their individual and combined (1:1) acaricidal activity against the cattle tick.

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Dengue is a significant public health problem in Malaysia and vector surveillance is one of the important components in a vector control program. Routinely vector surveillance in Malaysia is performed through larval surveys. However, larval surveys have several limitations.

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Article Synopsis
  • Forensic entomology involves analyzing insect evidence to estimate the time since death, focusing on flies found on human remains.
  • Over a three-year study at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, entomologists identified nine species of flies, with Chrysomya megacephala being the most frequent.
  • The research highlighted differences in fly diversity, finding more species indoors compared to outdoors, and emphasized the significance of Chrysomya species in forensic investigations in Malaysia.
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The distributions of flies are not only confined to ground level but can also be at higher altitudes. Here, we report three forensic cases involving dipterans in high-rise buildings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Case 1 involved a corpse of adult female found at the top floor of a fifteen-story apartment.

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Preservation of larvae retrieved from cadavers is important in ensuring the quality and integrity of entomological specimens used for the estimation of post-mortem interval (PMI). The process of killing and preserving larvae could distort the larvae leading to inaccurate estimation of PMI. In this study, the effects of killing Chrysomya megacephala larvae with hot water at different temperatures and subsequent maintenance in various preservatives were determined.

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This is the first report of Synthesiomyia nudiseta (Wulp) (Diptera: Muscidae) on a human corpse discovered in a high-rise building in Malaysia. On 5 March 2008, a decomposing body of an adult female was found on the top floor of a thirteen-story building in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Her body was colonized by S.

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This study reviews forensic entomological specimens analysed by the Department of Parasitology & Medical Entomology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia for the year 2004. A total of 10 cases (6 males and 4 females) were observed for the entomological specimens. Various types of death scenes were obtained including indoor and outdoor area such as bushes field, rubbish dumping site, and aquatic areas.

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Article Synopsis
  • The species Hypopygiopsis violacea, a fly important for forensic studies, was described for the first time from a corpse.
  • The study involved examining the second and third instar larvae under a light microscope, focusing on key traits like the cephalopharyngeal skeleton and spiracles.
  • Differences between the larvae stages were highlighted, such as pigmentation changes and spiracle structures, providing useful identification features for forensic entomology.
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