Y-STR DNA analysis of 154 female child sexual assault cases in the Philippines

Abstract

The laboratory evaluated 154 sexual assault cases from four Child Protection Units in the Philippines involving female child victims aged from 2 years to 18 years old. All child victims sought medical attention within 72 h after sexual contact. In 130 cases, the child victim knew the alleged offender and identified them during the interview with the social worker. Penile ejaculation was reported by 68 child victims with varying reports of washing after contact. Overall, 84 child victims admitted having wiped their genitalia prior to the collection of biological samples for DNA testing. Laboratory personnel examined vaginal smears in only 109 cases using a light microscope and reported 23 samples to be positive for sperm cells. Using the PowerPlex® short tandem repeat of the Y chromosome (Y-STR) DNA multiplex system, male DNA was detected in vaginal swab samples from 63 child victims. In 39 cases, positive amplification at 11 Y-STR DNA markers consistent with a single male DNA profile was observed. Twenty-eight of these full single Y-STR DNA profiles were found to be unique when searched in worldwide Y-STR DNA population databases (~40,000 haplotypes), eight haplotypes matching Filipinos and/or Asian haplotypes and one Y-STR DNA profile only matching European, Caucasian, and Latin American haplotypes. Y-STR DNA profiles generated will be compared with reference DNA profiles of alleged offenders once reference samples are submitted to the laboratory.