Teratogenic studies of fenitrothion on white leghorn chick embryos.

Teratogenic studies of fenitrothion, an organophosphorus insecticide were conducted on White Leghorn chick embryos. Fenitrothion injections of 5 to 30% concentration in 0.1 ml volumes into the egg yolk space during 4th to 12th day of incubation were lethal to the embryos and the concentration of 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0% resulted in 40, 35 and 30% hatch, respectively. The chicks showed visible abnormalities such as dwarfism, curled toe, leg weakness and abnormal gait. Fenitrothion injections were comparatively less toxic during the later stages of embryonic development (8th to 12th day of incubation). The growth rate of chicks hatched from fenitrothion treated eggs was reduced as compared to the control chicks (distilled water treated).