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

The authors report, for the first time in Italy, a case of dermatitis of "hypopodes" origin in a horse. The hypopodes are a particular nymphal stage of mites of the suborder Astigmata. The "hypopus" is non-feeding, lacks a mouth and has a ventral suctorial plate with suckers and conoids for attaching 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 lesions similar to mange. There are few reports of dermatitis in horses specifically associated with the presence of hypopodes and these have been attributed to an allergic response to the 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 underdiagnosed.