Accidental fenitrothion intoxication in young broilers
van Veen, L.; Kolk, H.; Counotte, G.H.
Veterinary and Human Toxicology 41(4): 235-236
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0145-6296 PMID: 10434378 Document Number: 511248
In December 1997 twenty five 2-day-old live and 6 dead broiler chicks were submitted to the Animal Health Service in Deventer, Netherlands, for PM examination. The broilers from a flock of 42 000 chickens were housed in 2 houses. They were hatched in the same hatchery and were derived from 1 parent flock. Four days after delivery 12 000 birds had died in house 2 and by the third day 3000 chicks had died in the same house. The dead birds were found in one area of the house. Prior to death dyspnoea and paralysis were seen. The mortality was 16.4% in the first week. The dead birds were found lying in a ventral position resting their heads on the floor. A concentration of 120 mg fenitrothion/kg of litter (dry weight) was found. Fenitrothion was not found in liver and kidney samples from the chickens. This appears to be the first report of death from fenitrothion intoxication in young broilers.