Detection and distribution of ³²P labelled diazinon

Abstract

Extract

Following its introduction to New Zealand, the organo-phosphorus insecticide diazinon has been suspected as the cause of several cases of poisoning in farm dogs. When tissue samples, usually liver, muscle and stomach contents, submitted from these cases, were analysed at Wallaceville by cholinesterase inhibition (Cooke, 1954a; Harrison et al., 1962) or by paper chromatography (Robblins et al., 1957) diazinon was not detected, although the sensitivity of the enzyme inhibition method used is 0.05 ppm of diazinon (wet tissue: basis) and 0.1 to 0.3 µg of insecticide can be detected by the paper chromatographic technique.