A toxicologist finds elevated morphine in third-instar larvae recovered from a heroin overdose death. This finding is significant because:
- A Insect larvae cannot absorb human drugs and the morphine represents contamination from the environment
- B Maggots bioaccumulate drugs from decomposing tissue; drug concentration in larvae can be used for toxicological analysis when body fluids are unavailable ✓
- C Morphine is produced by bacterial action on codeine in insect guts
- D The presence of morphine in larvae indicates a postmortem injection artifact
Correct answer: B. Maggots bioaccumulate drugs from decomposing tissue; drug concentration in larvae can be used for toxicological analysis when body fluids are unavailable
Explanation
Necrophagous insect larvae actively absorb and bioconcentrate drugs from decomposing tissue as they feed. Maggot toxicology allows retrospective drug detection when conventional specimens (blood, urine, vitreous) are putrefied or absent. Studies confirm detection of opioids, cocaine, benzodiazepines, and ethanol in larvae. Larvae do not synthesise morphine from codeine; this is a specific hepatic/bacterial pathway in humans. This technique is now accepted in forensic toxicology.
Reference: The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (Narayan Reddy), 34th ed.
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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.