Delayed neurotoxicity of phenylphosphonothioate esters.

Administration of a single oral dose of five phenylphosphonothioate esters produced delayed neurotoxicity in hens; their potency was, in descending order, cyanofenphos, EPN, desbromoleptophos, leptophos, and EPBP (Seven). Histological examination showed that in some hens there was marked axonal and myelin degeneration in the spinal cord and peripheral nerves. The results suggest that delayed neurotoxicity may be a general feature of phenylphosphonothioate insecticides.