Fungal signatures in a cadaver and a separated upper limb: insights from a forensic case study

The application of fungi in forensic investigations remains limited, particularly in cases involving dismembered human remains. In this study, we characterized the mycobiome of a decomposing human body and a detached upper limb recovered from different locations using culture-dependent methods. A total of 23 fungal species were identified across four culture media and three incubation temperatures, including 20 species from the body and ten from the upper limb. The dominant taxa included Yarrowia lipolytica, Yarrowia deformans, Mucor hiemalis, and Geotrichum candidum. Notably, seven species were shared between the body and the detached limb, indicating partially preserved fungal signatures despite environmental differences. These findings suggest that fungal community profiles may serve as a complementary tool for associating separated human body parts and for assessing postmortem relocation. Additionally, 11 fungal species were identified on human remains for the first time (Acaulium album, Acaulium caviariforme, Akanthomyces lecanii, Dialonectria ullevolea, Fusarium acuminatum, Fusarium falsibabinda, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium redolens, Fusarium sacchari, Linnemannia hyalina, and Penicillium clavigerum), expanding current knowledge of postmortem fungal colonization in temperate climates. KEY POINTS: • The regional postmortem mycobiome of a corpse and a severed upper limb • Shared fungal species suggest partial preservation of mycobiome signatures • Fungal profiles as potential indicators for the identification of dismembered body parts.