Dermatitis associated with "hypopodes" in a horse: the first case reportedin Italy

The authors report, for the first time in Italy, a case of dermatitis of "h ypopodes" origin in a horse. The hypopodes are a particular nymphal stage o f mites of the suborder Astigmata. The "hypopus" is non-feeding, lacks a mo uth and has a ventral suctorial plate with suckers and conoids for attachin g itself to insects as a mode of dispersal. Some of these larval stages can enter into the hair follicles and into the subcutaneous layers causing les ions similar to mange. There are few reports of dermatitis in horses specif ically associated with the presence of hypopodes and these have been attrib uted to an allergic response to I:he body fluid of crushed hypopial stage. It may be that infestations of these nymphal stages are widespread, but the nature of the condition is not yet clear; therefore, they may be underdiag nosed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.