Relationship between Metabolism and Differential Toxicity in Insects and Mice of Diazinon, Dimethoate, Parathion, and Acethion1

Abstract

The persistence and metabolism of Diazinon^®,(O,O-diethyl O-(2-isopropyl-4-methyl-6-pyrimidinyl)phosphorothioated) dimethoate, parathion, and acethion (O,O-diethyl S-carboethoxy-methyl phosphorodithioate) have been studied in the mouse, American cockroach (Periplaneta americana (L.)), and house fly (Musca domestica L.). The results have been used to explain the selective toxicity of three of these compound toward insects as compared with mamamals. For Diazinon, selectivity is attributed to high levels of oxygen analog in the susceptible species. For dimethoate and acethion, selectivity is attributed to a persistence of unaltered parent compound in the whole body. Small differences were found in Diazinon absorption and metabolism by normal and Diazinon-resistant house flies.