  Animal hair examination at a criminal scene may provide valuable information
in forensic investigations. However, local reference databases for animal hair
identification are rare. In the present study, we provide differential
histological analysis of hair of some domestic animals in Upper Egypt. For this
purpose, guard hair of large ruminants (buffalo, camel and cow), small
ruminants (sheep and goat), equine (horse and donkey) and canine (dog and cat)
were collected and comparative analysis was performed by light microscopy.
Based on the hair cuticle scale pattern, type and diameter of the medulla, and
the pigmentation, characteristic differential features of each animal species
were identified. The cuticle scale pattern was imbricate in all tested animals
except in donkey, in which coronal scales were identified. The cuticle scale
margin type, shape and the distance in between were characteristic for each
animal species. The hair medulla was continuous in most of the tested animal
species with the exception of sheep, in which fragmental medulla was detected.
The diameter of the hair medulla and the margins differ according to the animal
species. Hair shaft pigmentation were not detected in all tested animals with
the exception of camel and buffalo, in which granules and streak-like
pigmentation were detected. In conclusion, the present study provides a
first-step towards preparation of a complete local reference database for
animal hair identification that can be used in forensic investigations.
