Diatom Similarity in Experimental Drowning of Rattus norvegicus as Forensic Evidence for Determining The Drowning Site
DOI:
10.29303/jbt.v25i4b.10565Published:
2025-12-05Downloads
Abstract
Diatom analysis is one of the most reliable indicators for confirming death due to drowning. Diatoms are microscopic algae that can enter the respiratory tract during water aspiration and provide ecological evidence linking the victim to the drowning site. This study aimed to analyze the presence of diatom species and taxonomic similarity between water samples and the internal organs of experimentally drowned white rats (Rattus norvegicus) to validate their use as a forensic model. Experimental drowning was performed using water of the Batang Arau River, West Sumatra in the February 2024 to January 2025. In this study, we were found 56 species of diatoms in the waters, while 31 were found in white rats' internal organs. The highest diversity found in the esophagus (31 species) and lungs (19 species). No diatoms were detected in the heart, liver, or kidneys. The distribution pattern, limited to the respiratory system, indicated early drowning aspiration with no systemic circulation. The typical species is a diatom species only found in water and in the internal organs of white rats in specific locations. Achnanthes adnata, Cocconeis pellucida, Cocconeis pseudomarginata, Eunotia bilunaris, and Gomphonema pumilum are typical species at Location I. Amphora bigibba and Amphora bioculata are typical species at Location IV. At the same time, Navicula viridula is the typical species at Location VI. These findings validate the white rat as an effective experimental model for drowning research and demonstrate that species-specific diatom fingerprints can aid forensic investigators in determining both the vitality of drowning and the probable crime scene.
Keywords:
Diatom test Drowning diagnosis Rattus norvegicus Forensic ecologyReferences
Armis, A. Hatta, & A. Sumakin. (2017). Analisis Salinitas air pada Down Stream dan Middle stream Sungai Pampang Makassar. Jurnal Tugas Akhir Jurusan Teknik Sipil. Hal:1-10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32487/jutateks.v5i2
Bishop, J. M., R. L. Smith, & P. A. Johnson. (2000). The role of diatoms in freshwater ecosystems. Journal of Phycology, 36(4), 522-530.
Cade-Menun, B. J., J. A. Navaratnam, & Walbridge. (2012). Diatom contributions to phosphorus cycling in freshwater ecosystems. Journal of Phosphorus Research, 45(2), 123-135.
Cuker, B. E., R. T. Johnson, & A. P. Smith. (2017). Ecological roles of diatoms in aquatic ecosystems. Aquatic Ecology, 51(3), 325-340.
Gerlach, C., et al. (2001). Experimental studies on the pathophysiology of drowning. Forensic Science International, 124: 57–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0379-0738(01)00514-5
Elsi, M., & Gusti, D. (2020). Pengetahuan dan Sikap Nelayan Terhadap Pertolongan Pertama Kejadian Tenggelam di Kelurahan Purus Kota Padang. Jurnal Kesehatan Saintika Meditory, 2(2), 152–157. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30633/jsm.v2i2
Huys, G., et al. (2013). Distribution of diatoms in organs and tissues in drowning cases: A comparative study. Forensic Science International, 228(1–3), 68–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2013.02.011
Hidayattuloh, T. (2023). Komposisi Spesies Diatom Pada Organ Internal Tikus Putih (Rattus norvegicus Berekenhout, 1969) Sebagai Pendukung Diagnosa Forensik Tempat Kejadian Perkara Korban Tenggelam. Skripsi. Universitas Andalas, Padang.
Hidayattuloh, T., Nofrita dan J. Nurdin .(2025) Composition of Diatom Species in the Internal Organs of White Rats (Rattus norvegicus Berekenhout, 1769) as a Support for Forensic Diagnosis of Drowning Victim Cases. International Journal of Progressive Sciences and Technologies (IJPSAT). Vol. 48 (2): 414-428.
Imaniah, I., Zaenuri, M., Peramiarti, I., dan Afifah R. (2023). Gambaran Pemeriksaa Diatom pada Organ Hepar Kasus Tenggelam di Perairan Sungai Pelus Sokarja Banyumas Menggunakan Model Tikus Putih (Rattus novergicus). Journal of Indonesian Forensic and Legal Medicine. Vol 5: 336-344. ISSN : 2656-2391
Kingston, J. (2003). Freshwater algae of North America: Ecology and Classification. California: Academic Press.
Kurniawan, A. (2022). Kolonisasi Diatom Pada Substrat Buatan di Sungai Batang Arau, Kota Padang Sebagai Pendukung Diagnosa Korban Tenggelam. Skripsi. Universitas Andalas, Padang.
Lunetta, P., dan Modell, J. H. (2005). Macropathologic, histologic, and laboratory findings in drowning victims. In Handbook of Forensic Medicine. 215–233pp.
Ludes, B., Coste, M., North, N., Doray, S., Tracqui, A., Kintz, P., & Mangin, P. (1999). Application of diatom analysis to forensic medicine: A new method for drowning diagnosis. International Journal of Legal Medicine, 112(4), 219–224. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004140050224
Mann, D. G., & P. Vanormelingen. (2009). An introduction to the diatoms: Fossil and recent. Journal of Phycology, 45(4): 413–435. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1529-8817.2009.00757.
Martinez, F.E. dan A.J. Hooper. (2014). Drowning and immersion injury. Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, 15(9): 420–423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mpaic.2014.06.006
Nofrita, J. Nurdin, R. Fitra dan Wullandari. 2019. Eksplorasi diatom pada sungai-sungai di Kota Padang sebagai diagnosa korban tenggelam. Laporan Penelitian LPPM Universitas Andalas.
Nofrita, dkk. 2024. Biologi Forensik. Penerbit CV. Eureka Media Aksara. Jawa Tengah.
Nurdin, J., Nofrita dan T. Hidayatulloh. 2022. Diversitas Diatom pada Tubuh Tikus Putih dalam Membantu Diagnosa Forensik Korban Tenggelam. Laporan Penelitian Dasar, FMIPA, Universitas Andalas.
Oehmichen, M., & Meissner, C. (2009). Forensic relevance of diatom analysis in drowning cases. International Journal of Legal Medicine, 123(5), 415–421. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-008-0316-5
Peabody, A. J., and N. G. Cameron. (2010). The Diatoms Applications for the Environtment and Earth Sciences, Second Edition. Cambridge University Press. United Kingdom.
Peabody, A. J. (1980). Diatoms and drowning: A review. Medicine, Science and the Law, 20(4), 254–261. https://doi.org/10.1177/002580248002000406
Piette, M. H. A., and E. A. D. Letter. (2006). Drowning: Still a difficult autopsy diagnosis. Forensic Science International. 163:1-.9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2004.10.027
Punia, R. K. (2011). Case Report, Diatoms: Role in Drowning. J. Indian Acad Forensic Med. 33(2): 184-186. https://doi.org/10.1177/0971097320110224
Pollanen, M. S. (1998). Forensic diatomology and drowning. Microscopy Research and Technique, 41(5), 342–346.
Round, F. E., R. M. Crawford and D.G. Mann. (1990). The Diatoms: Biology and Morphology of the Genera. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 747 pp. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315400059245
Reynolds C. S. (2006). The Ecology of Phytoplankton. Cambridge University Press.
Sharma, N., R. Gupta, & A. Singh. (2012). Ecological role of diatoms in aquatic environments. Aquatic Microbial Ecology, 68(3), 243-255.
Wright, R. T., Anderson, J. D., & Brown, T. S. (2000). Ecology of diatoms in freshwater systems. Freshwater Biology, 45(3), 275-282.
Wetzel RG. (2001). Limnology: Lake and River Ecosystems. Academic Press.
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Taufik Hidayatulloh, Nofrita Nofrita, Jabang Nurdin
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Jurnal Biologi Tropis is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The copyright of the received article shall be assigned to the author as the owner of the paper. The intended copyright includes the right to publish the article in various forms (including reprints). The journal maintains the publishing rights to the published articles.
Authors are permitted to disseminate published articles by sharing the link/DOI of the article at the journal. Authors are allowed to use their articles for any legal purposes deemed necessary without written permission from the journal with an acknowledgment of initial publication to this journal.
