RT Journal Article
T1 Forensic investigations of religious rituals involving poultry: a case report
A1 Vázquez Fernández, Esther
A1 Rebollada Merino, Agustín Miguel
A1 Chinchilla Rodríguez, Blanca
A1 Porras González, Néstor
A1 Rodríguez Bertos, Antonio Manuel
AB Animal victims of human cruelty are receiving increasing attention from the press and society. Veterinary pathologists and civic authorities have a duty not only to elucidate the cause, method and manner of death but also to address the motivation behind a case. Poultry are commonly used as offering to gods in Santería rituals (ebós). Only a few cases have been reported in scientific journals, in contrast with the number of cases described in the media. Here, a hen and a cockerel (Gallus domesticus) were submitted to the VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre for autopsy, which comprised macroscopic and histological studies and microbiological testing for Chlamydia psittaci, avian orthoavulavirus 1 (Newcastle disease virus), West Nile virus and avian influenza virus. The carcasses were in an active decay stage of decomposition, containing larvae of Lucilia eximia. Both animals had been decapitated and haemorrhages in the cutting region were observed histologically. Post-mortem burns were also observed. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first post-mortem description of lesions in a domestic avian species due to religious rituals. European Union and Spanish forensic practitioners should be aware that these ritual sacrifices occur in some European countries. Moreover, future European and national legislation updates should consider this type of animal abuse.
PB Elsevier
SN 0021-9975
YR 2023
FD 2023-11-23
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/104237
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/104237
LA eng
NO 2023 Acuerdos transformativos CRUE
NO Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España)
NO Ministerio de Universidades (España)
DS Docta Complutense
RD 28 jul 2024