Y-STR DNA amplification as biological evidence in sexually assaulted female victims with no cytological detection of spermatozoa

Identification of spermatozoa is the biological evidence most often sought in specimens from rape victims. Absence of spermatozoa usually terminates biological investigations, and the victim’s testimony can be contested. We assessed the utility and reliability of PCR amplification using Y-chromosoma...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Forensic science international 2002-02, Vol.125 (2), p.212-216
Main Authors: Sibille, I., Duverneuil, C., Lorin de la Grandmaison, G., Guerrouache, K., Teissière, F., Durigon, M., de Mazancourt, P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Amelogenin
Amplification
Biological and medical sciences
Cellular biology
Child, Preschool
Cytology
Dental Enamel Proteins
Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
DNA fingerprints
DNA Typing
DYS 389
DYS 393
Enzymes
Female
Females
Forensic medicine
Forensic Medicine - methods
General aspects
Humans
Hybridization
Male
Medical sciences
Molecular biology
Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques - methods
Physical examinations
Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Rape
Rape - diagnosis
Reproducibility of Results
Sex crimes
Sexual assault
Sperm
Spermatozoa
Spermatozoa - cytology
Tandem Repeat Sequences
Time Factors
Vagina
Y Chromosome - genetics
Y chromosomes
Y-chromosome
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Summary:Identification of spermatozoa is the biological evidence most often sought in specimens from rape victims. Absence of spermatozoa usually terminates biological investigations, and the victim’s testimony can be contested. We assessed the utility and reliability of PCR amplification using Y-chromosomal STR polymorphisms in specimens from female victims of sexual assault with negative cytology. One hundred and four swabs without spermatozoa detected by cytology were collected from 79 alleged sexually assaulted female victims and amplification of Y-STR and of amelogenin was performed. Overall, Y-chromosome was detected and evidenced sexual penetration in 28.8% of swabs. In the population of victims examined more than 48 h after the sexual assault, Y-STR were still evidenced in 30% of the cases. These results show that swabs should be taken from victims for Y-chromosome DNA typing even after long delays between sexual assault and medical examination.
ISSN:0379-0738
1872-6283
DOI:10.1016/S0379-0738(01)00650-8