Med. Weter. 77 (05), 253-257, 2021
full text

PIOTR LISTOS, MAGDALENA GRYZIŃSKA, KINGA PANASIUK-FLAK,
MARZANNA CIESIELKA, GRZEGORZ TERESIŃSKI |
Assessment of temperature changes in carcasses
in the early post-mortem period using the spectrum
of a thermal imaging camera |
Precise determination of the time of death of a human being or animal is extremely important for investigations
by law enforcement agencies. The aim of the study was to use a thermal imaging camera for imaging of the
cooling of dog carcasses in controlled conditions, as a practical application of thermal imaging in veterinary
forensics for the purpose of establishing the time of death of an animal, as well as to compare the usefulness
of this method with that of the currently used Henssge nomogram. A thermographic technique exploiting
infrared radiation was used in the study. The research material was 10 dog carcasses (5 female and 5 male)
aged 6 to 16 years, with body weight from 23 to 36 kg. Thermal imaging of a carcass in combination with
other methods, such as measurement of internal body temperature and analysis of post-mortem changes,
enables reliable determination of the time of death of an animal, which is often of fundamental importance in
veterinary forensic practice. |
Keywords: veterinary forensics, time of death, thermal imaging camera |