DIAZINON TOXICITY IN BROILERS

Ten 3-day-old chicks were submitted from a flock experiencing high mor tality. Necropsy revealed lacrimation, diarrhea, pleural effusion, hem orrhage and ulceration of the proventriculus, and swollen, hemorrhagic livers. Numerous yellow granules were present in the crop. Assayed cr op contents contained 39 ppm diazinon [O,O-diethyl -isopropyl-4-methyl -6-pyrimidyl)phosphorothioate]. The insecticide had been applied to th e litter to control fire ants. The high mortality abated after new lit ter was added on top of the old litter. Diazinon toxicosis was traced to ingestion of diazinon-impregnated granules and was reproduced exper imentally.