Effect of Ketamine Hydrochloride in Combination with Xylazine on the Development of Chrysomya Megacephala Fab

This study was aimed to determine the effect of Ketamine hydrochloride in combination with Xylazine on the development and growth of the immature stages of Chrysomya megacephala (Fab.). Larvae of C. megacephala were reared on rat tissues administered the half lethal, lethal, twice lethal and thrice lethal dosages of Ketamine hydrochloride in combination with Xylazine antemortem. Development of immature stages was estimated on the basis of various parameters like larval weight, length and width, time of adult emergence and survival rate. An estimate of the postmortem interval on the basis of normal development of C. megacephala could have an error of up to 32-64 hours if based on the larval age, and 40-144 hours if based on the duration of the pupal stage, if presence of Ketamine hydrochloride in combination with Xylazine is not taken into consideration, and this could lead to incorrect estimation of postmortem interval.