Diazinon toxicity in broilers

Ten 3-day-old chicks were submitted from a flock experiencing high mortality. Necropsy revealed lacrimation, diarrhea, pleural effusion, hemorrhage and ulceration of the proventriculus, and swollen, hemorrhagic livers. Numerous yellow granules were present in the crop. Assayed crop contents contained 39 ppm diazinon [O,O-diethyl O-(2-isopropyl-4-methyl-6-pyrimidyl)phosphorothioate]. The insecticide had been applied to the litter to control fire ants. The high mortality abated after new litter was added on top of the old litter. Diazinon toxicosis was traced to ingestion of diazinon-impregnated granules and was reproduced experimentally.