Zoalene Toxicity in Broiler Chickens

Abstract

Toxic factors accidentally incorporated into commercial rations and causing pathology are rare in relation to the millions of tons of rations prepared for domestic animals. Some exceptions, each causing a typical gross and microscopic change, include the following: 1) A chlorinated naphthalene contaminating the lubricant of a cattle feed pelleting machine, causing hyperkeratosis in cattle (9,12). 2. An unidentified toxic factor present in some lots of oleic fatty acids, causing an endotheliosis in chickens and turkeys manifested by a hydropericardium and ascites (3,4,17,18,22). 3) A factor, thought to be a mycotoxin, in ground nut meals incorporated into poultry rations, causing a high mortality with gross and microscopic liver changes in turkey poults, ducks, and pheasants (1,8,12). 4) A chlorinated hydrocarbon used as a plasticizer in an epoxy resin paint (13), causing hydropericardium and ascites in young chickens. 5) Toxic proteins from soybean oil meal extracted with trichloroethylene, producing a hemorrhagic aplastic anemia in cattle (14,15). 6) Seeds of Crotalaria spectabilis, causing ascites and liver damage in young chickens and turkeys (2,19). 7) Histamine from decomposed fish meal, causing proventricular enlargement, gizzard erosions, and splenic atrophy (20,21). Zoalene (3,5-dinitro-ortho-toluamide; Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Michigan), for use as a coccidiostat, is limited in the