Dr. Heo obtained his Bachelor in Biomedical Sciences (Hons.) (2006) and Master in Medical Science (Parasitology) (2009) from the National University of Malaysia. He then earned his Ph.D. from the Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University in 2016. He is currently a senior lecturer at the Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. Prior to that, he was a research officer at the Entomology Unit, Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur. As of 2020, he has published >100 peer-reviewed journal articles, one book and one book chapter. He received the Nadchatram Medal from the Malaysian Society of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (MSPTM) in 2018, and John Henry Comstock Graduate Student Award from the Entomological Society of America at Denver, Colorado in 2017. In addition, Dr. Heo is a Board-Certified Entomologist (BCE) since 2016.
EDUCATION
B. (Hons), National University of Malaysia
M., National University of Malaysia
Ph.D. (Entomology), Texas A&M University, USA
RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS
Insect Science, Infectious Diseases, Microbiology (medical), Pathology and Forensic Medicine
FUTURE PROJECTS
Forensic Entomology in the Tropics
Applications Invited Postgraduate Students
Tick and Tick-Borne Diseases
Applications Invited Postgraduate Students
99
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Malathion and metformin in forensic entomotoxicology: a narrative review on impacts on necrophagous fly development and key research gaps Muhammad Widad Sabab, Naji Arafat Mahat, Chong Chin Heo, Khairunadwa Jemon, Mohamad Afiq Mohamed Huri, Mohamad Hamdi Zainal-Abidin Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 2026 Forensic entomology provides critical estimates of minimum post-mortem interval (PMI) by analyzing necrophagous flies; however, substances like malathion (an organophosphorus insecticide) can disrupt insect development, compromising minimum PMI accuracy. Moreover, the disruption of blow flies’ development by metformin (a common antihyperglycemic drug) chronic exposure (lifelong) remains unknown, despite its potential to alter energy metabolism in Fall webworm moth, Hyphantria cunea (Drury, 1773) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae). Hence, this review examines the effects of malathion and metformin on necrophagous flies and identifies relevant gaps in entomotoxicological research. Malathion, frequently encountered in suicides and occupational exposures, inhibits acetylcholinesterase. This inhibition delays oviposition and extends larval development in necrophagous flies e.g. Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Despite these effects, the underlying biochemical and histological mechanisms for the developmental variations remain poorly understood. Nevertheless, the influence of malathion metabolites (iso-malathion and malaoxon) on the growth of necrophagous flies is inadequately studied. The co-occurrence of malathion and metformin in death cases is likely, yet research on metformin’s presence in necrophagous flies or its potential synergistic effects with malathion is notably absent. These significant knowledge gaps cloud the reliability of entomological evidence. In addition, while analytical techniques (e.g. gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) have enabled malathion detection in insect tissues, supporting cause-of-death determination, the same for metformin remains unreported. Hence, future research must prioritize elucidating the biochemical and histological mechanisms of these two compounds while developing eco-friendly analytical methods, such as those using deep eutectic solvents, to improve minimum PMI estimation and forensic integrity. • Malathion exposure delays development of forensically important necrophagous flies. • The effect of metformin on necrophagous fly development remains completely unknown. • Potential synergistic effects between malathion and metformin are entirely unstudied. • Biochemical mechanisms behind xenobiotic-induced developmental delays are unclear. • The influence of malathion’s toxic metabolites on fly growth is poorly understood. • Deep eutectic solvents are proposed for greener entomotoxicological analysis.
Morphological and molecular analyses unveil phenotypic polymorphism in hairy maggots of the genus Chrysomya Natasha Azmi Nur‐Aliah, Van Lun Low, Anabel Martínez‐Sánchez, Tania Ivorra, Chong Chin Heo Medical and Veterinary Entomology, 2026 Some species of the genus Chrysomya , known as hairy maggot blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae), are medically and forensically important insects worldwide. However, identifying these species can be challenging due to morphological characteristics overlapping. In this study, we investigated morphological and molecular differences among three hairy maggot blowflies: Chrysomya rufifacies Macquart, 1843, Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819), which are widely distributed throughout the Old World, respectively; and Chrysomya villeneuvi Patton, 1922, which is restricted to Asia. Morphological analysis revealed overlapping characters in larval and adult stages of C. rufifacies and C. albiceps based on traditional diagnostic characters, confirming phenotypic polymorphism in both species. Due to the global spread of these species, likely by human activity and climate change, a morphological and phylogenetic investigation was underway. A revision of the established morphological keys was proposed, and the phylogenetic analysis supported a sister relationship among the three species, with C. rufifacies more closely related to C. albiceps (genetic distances of 2.42%–3.13%) than to C. villeneuvi (3.49%–4.40%). Notably, C. albiceps differed from C. villeneuvi (3.31%–3.48%), suggesting that C. albiceps , occupies an intermediate evolutionary position between C. rufifacies and C. villeneuvi .
Molecular screening of Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and Brucella in ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) infesting farm ruminants in Peninsular Malaysia Kazim A.R. Tropical Biomedicine, 2026 Ticks are obligate hematophagous arachnids that parasitize both humans and animals. While considerable research in Malaysia has focused on bacterial detection in ticks, knowledge of tick-borne Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and Brucella in farm ruminants remains limited. In this study, 1,241 ticks comprising of four species (Rhipicephalus microplus, Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides, Haemaphysalis bispinosa, and Haemaphysalis wellingtoni) were collected from 674 farm ruminants across Peninsular Malaysia. The ticks were pooled and molecularly screened for Anaplasma and Ehrlichia using 16S rRNA gene primers, and Brucella using the BSCP31 gene primer. Out of 130 tick pools, five (3.85%) tested positive for Anaplasma and two (1.54%) for Ehrlichia. No Brucella DNA was detected in all four tick species. All positive pools consisted exclusively of R. microplus, with no pathogens identified in the other three tick species. BLAST analysis revealed that the Anaplasma sequences were identical to Anaplasma marginale, A. platys, and Candidatus "Anaplasma boleense", while the Ehrlichia sequences were identical to Ehrlichia ewingii. This study represents the first screening for Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and Brucella in ticks infesting farm ruminants in Peninsular Malaysia.
Molecular detection of a relapsing fever Borrelia in Dermacentor auratus infesting a human, with a brief review of human otoacariasis cases in Malaysia Abdul Rahman Kazim, Sze Yin Ng, Nur Adilla Zaini, Van Lun Low, Jamal Houssaini, Dennis Tappe, Chong Chin Heo Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2026 This study reports the detection of a relapsing fever Borrelia in the gilded boar tick, Dermacentor auratus, extracted from the ear canal of a human patient in Kedah, Peninsular Malaysia. Molecular analysis of the flaB gene identified the Borrelia species as identical to Borrelia sp. isolate HNF1F2 from China (ON060668) and closely related (99.60%) to Borrelia theileri isolate B22 from Colombia (ON135433). This article also provides a comprehensive review of human otoacariasis cases in Malaysia and discusses the limitations associated with these cases.
Emic–Etic Perspectives on Southeast Asian Cultural Attitudes Surrounding Human Remains Tatfeef Haque, Edwin Miguel Anadon, Ker Woon Choy, Elaine Yih‐Ning Chu, Chong Chin Heo, Toetik Koesbardiati, Winsome Hin‐Shin Lee, Chin‐Hsin Liu, Delta Bayu Murti, Sophorn Nhoem, Patara Rattanachet, Erwin Mansyur U. Saraka, Kathleen Felise Constance Tantuico, Minh Tran, Sarah Agatha Villaluz, Wan Xian Yeo, Naruphol Wangthongchaicharoen, Nandar Yukyi, Pratiwi Yuwono, Michael Rivera International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, 2026 Community ethics and cultural attitudes vary across contexts in which professionals work with human remains. Southeast Asia is home to millions; thus, there are challenges when attempting to understand and articulate the diversity in cultures, ideologies, and ethics surrounding the dead. Our semi‐autoethnographic and qualitative research addresses these challenges through a critical self‐examination of how we conduct our work with human remains, engaging with diverse communities around us. Our approach combines insights from osteologists, which provide both culturally informed personal perspectives (emic) and professional views of ethical issues surrounding work with human remains (etic). Thematic analysis returned three main themes: (a) we in Southeast Asia, who work directly with the dead, are influenced heavily by the social and ideological norms we operate within; (b) community attitudes towards our professions are diverse and interesting to consider in and of themselves; (c) it is important to put efforts into public engagement on science and ethics, particularly with local community members and government authorities, and influence others in society to adopt or further a dynamic, non‐monolithic culture of respect towards human remains. We hope this study adds to the growing literature on ethics in the biological, archaeological, and forensic sciences.
Assessing landfill wastes as a sustainable feeding substrate for black soldier fly larvae Natasha Azmi Nur-Aliah, Tania Ivorra, Meisam Tabatabaei, Hannis Fadzillah Mohsin, Chong Chin Heo Environmental Entomology, 2025 The rapid growth of the global population has led to an alarming increase in waste generation, with landfills continuing to serve as the primary waste management solution in many developing countries. This surge in solid waste accumulation is putting immense pressure on landfill capacities, underscoring the urgent need for innovative waste management strategies, especially in regions still heavily dependent on traditional systems. This study investigates the potential of black soldier fly larvae to process 3 distinct types of landfill waste: food waste, aged landfill waste, and municipal solid waste sludge. Neonate larvae (0–1-day-old) were applied to 2.5 ± 0.02 kg of waste to assess key performance metrics, including waste reduction (% dry matter), survival rate (%), bioconversion rate (% dry matter), and waste conversion efficiency (% dry matter). The results revealed that black soldier fly larvae effectively reduced waste by 41.6–55.8%. However, across all treatment groups, the larvae exhibited low efficiency in converting waste into biomass. Notably, while performance comparisons with the control feed (commercial chicken feed) yielded predominantly adverse outcomes, the fresh waste treatment showed a marginally positive impact on waste reduction. These findings highlight the potential of black soldier fly larvae in landfill waste management while also identifying significant limitations in bioconversion efficiency. To optimize the application of black soldier fly larvae in sustainable waste management practices, further research is warranted to explore innovative pretreatment methods and other factors that could enhance their efficacy in biomass production.
A scoping review on drone technology applications in forensic science Natassya Ezzaty Mohd Sabri, Mansharan Kaur Chainchel Singh, Mohd Shah Mahmood, Lay See Khoo, Mohd Yusmiaidil Putera Mohd Yusof, Chong Chin Heo, Muhammad Dzulfiqri Muhammad Nasir, Hapizah Nawawi SN Applied Sciences, 2023
The Development of Forensic Entomology Questionnaire for Health-related Undergraduate Students from Universiti Teknologi MARA Department of Medical Microbiology, Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia, Tania Ivorra, Chong Chin Heo, Department of Medical Microbiology, Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia, Institute of Pathology, Laboratory, Forensic Medicine (I-PPerForM), Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia, Azwandi Ahmad, Department of Pharmaceutical Life Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia, Mohamad Rodi Isa, Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia Education in Medicine Journal, 2023
Applications of drone in disaster management: A scoping review Sharifah Mastura Syed Mohd Daud, Mohd Yusmiaidil Putera Mohd Yusof, Chong Chin Heo, Lay See Khoo, Mansharan Kaur Chainchel Singh, Mohd Shah Mahmood, Hapizah Nawawi Science and Justice, 2022
Age estimation of forensically important blowfly, Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera: Calliphoridae) pupae using micro-computed tomography imaging Tropical Biomedicine, 2019
First report of Histiostoma sp. (astigmata: Histiostomatidae) phoretic on a forensically important blowfly, Chrysomya villeneuvi (diptera: Calliphoridae) Tropical Biomedicine, 2019
Morphological descriptions on the larvae of hypopygiopsis fumipennis (walker, 1856) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Tropical Biomedicine, 2015
Malaysia Jeffery Keith Tomberlin, M. Eric Benbow Forensic Entomology International Dimensions and Frontiers, 2015
A preliminary report on ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) recovered from forensic entomological studies conducted in different ecological habitats in Malaysia Tropical Biomedicine, 2014
High prevalence of muscular sarcocystosis in cattle and water buffaloes from Selangor, Malaysia Tropical Biomedicine, 2013
Human and animal invasive muscular sarcocystosis in Malaysia - Recent cases, review and hypotheses Tropical Biomedicine, 2013
New locality record of Isomyia paurogonita Fang & Fan, 1986 (diptera: Calliphoridae) from peninsular Malaysia and Borneo Tropical Biomedicine, 2013
Dermatitis caused by Paederus fuscipes Curtis, 1840 (Coleoptera: Staphilinidae) in student hostels in Selangor, Malaysia Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, 2013
A new record for Lispe orientalis Wiedemann, 1824 (Diptera: Muscidae) from peninsular Malaysia Tropical Biomedicine, 2012
An observation on the decomposition process of gasolineingested monkey carcasses in a secondary forest in Malaysia Tropical Biomedicine, 2010
Insect Succession Associated with a Hanging Pig Carcass Placed in an Oil Palm Plantation in Malaysia Sains Malaysiana, 2010
First report of liposcelis bostrychophila badonnel (Psocoptera: Liposcelidae) as a Museum Insect Pest in Malaysia Sains Malaysiana, 2010
Infestation with the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis felis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) among students in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, 2010
Predation on pupa of Chrysomya rufifacies (Marquart) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) by parasitoid, exoristobia philippinensis Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and Ophyra spinigera larva (Diptera: Muscidae) Tropical Biomedicine, 2009
Myospila pudica pudica (Stein, 1915) (Diptera: Muscidae) in peninsular Malaysia and its ocurrence on a monkey carrion Tropical Biomedicine, 2009
Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) associated with pig carcasses in Malaysia Tropical Biomedicine, 2009
On the occurrence of Musca domestica L oviposition activity on pig carcass in peninsular Malaysia Tropical Biomedicine, 2008
Study of insect succession and rate of decomposition on a partially burned pig carcass in an oil palm plantation in Malaysia Tropical Biomedicine, 2008
A new record of Bengalia emarginata Malloch, 1927 (Diptera: Calliphoridae) from Malaysia Tropical Biomedicine, 2008
First report of the signal fly, Scholastes sp. (Diptera: Platystomatidae) visiting animal carcasses in Malaysia Tropical Biomedicine, 2008
Insect succession on a decomposing piglet carcass placed in a man-made freshwater Pond in Malaysia Tropical Biomedicine, 2008
On the predation of fly, chrysomya rufifacies (macquart) by a spider, oxyopes sp. Latreille (oxyopidae) Tropical Biomedicine, 2008
A new record of Fannia prisca Stein, 1918 (Diptera:Fanniidae) from peninsular Malaysia. Tropical Biomedicine, 2008
A preliminary study of insect succession on a pig carcass in a palm oil plantation in Malaysia. Tropical Biomedicine, 2007