Publication details

Microbiological aspects of the examination of the 140- year-old embalmed body of N.I. Pirogov

Authors

MELNYK Oleg P. TKACH Gennadii F FRIŠHONS Jan GUMINSKYI Yurii Y. KOVALCHUK Valentyn P. SVOBODA Jiří MELNYK Maria V. DZETKULIČOVÁ Veronika

Year of publication 2021
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source The Journal of Plastination
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Medicine

Citation
Web https://journal.plastination.org/articles/microbiological-aspects-of-the-examination-of-the-140-year-old-embalmed-body-of-n-i-pirogov/
Keywords embalming; microbiology; mildew; Penicillium citrinum; Pirogov
Description The body of N.I. Pirogov has been entombed in the Church of St. Nicolas in Vinnytsia, Ukraine, since 1881, when it was embalmed by Professor Vyvodtsev. During the re-embalming of the body of N.I. Pirogov in 2018, microbiological swabs from the body and its surroundings were taken and, among other things, skin, subcutaneous tissue, and muscle and bone tissues were taken for ultramicroscopic examination. Hyphae of fungi of the genus Penicillium citrinum were found at two sites during this examination. The occurrence of fungi can be explained by the already weakened immunity before death due to cancer, and its subsequent postmortem growth due to the non-use of formaldehyde and the placement of the body in a non-sterile and relatively humid environment of the tomb without regular control.

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