Skin lesions caused by Tabanus bovinus bites

We report seven Caucasian adult patients who were bitten by horseflies (Tabanus bovinus Linnaeus, 1758) during a trip to Bolivia. Clinical picture was superimposable in all patients: it was characterized by multiple, erythematous, roundish, flattened, large plaques, often with a central point corresponding to horsefly bite, surrounded by satellite, similar, although smaller, lesions. All lesions were located on the neck and/or the upper chest and/or the shoulders; one patient had lesions also on the face. All patients complained of pain at the site of the bite. No systemic symptoms and/or signs were recorded. Rapid recovery was achieved with topical corticosteroids. It is possible that this clinical presentation is pathognomonic of horsefly bites.