Clinical and Experimental Medical Journal
Volume/Issue:
Volume 4: Issue 1
Anaphylactic reaction following forest fly (Hippobosca equina) bite: A human case
Authors:
Alice Decastello Department of Family Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary

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and
Robert Farkas Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary

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Pages:
193–198
Online Publication Date:
01 Mar 2010
Publication Date:
01 Mar 2010
Article Category:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1556/CEMED.4.2010.1.19
Keywords:
forest fly; Hippobosca equina; anaphylaxis
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Abstract

The authors report the case of a 46-year-old female patient, who experienced an anaphylactic reaction with a lucky outcome following an insect bite. Within a short time, a hard swelling of 15-cm diameter, covered by a serous crust, appeared at the border of her forehead and hairy scalp, with oedema on her forehead. Soon thereafter, erythema and itching developed locally and all over her body, with oedema of her hands, face and lips, later accompanied by shivering, nausea and vomiting. Based on identification with the help of a taxonomic key, the captured insect proved to be a forest fly (Hippobosca equina). As far as we know, this is the first published case of anaphylaxis induced by the bite of this species in Hungary. Forest flies are present all over the world; they have been known in Hungary for a long time; they suck blood several times a day mostly from horses, donkeys or cattle kept on pastures or in stables and cowsheds, and occasionally also from other animal species. As vectors, they transmit various pathogens. By reporting our case, we wish to call the attention of family doctors and clinicians to horse tick bite and the clinical signs and symptoms caused by it, since they have no specific experience required for the diagnosis of such insect bites.

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Cover Clinical and Experimental Medical Journal
Clinical and Experimental Medical Journal
Print ISSN:
2060-6249
Online ISSN:
2060-968X

Clinical and Experimental Medical Journal
Language English
Size  
Year of
Foundation		 2007
Publication
Programme		 ceased
Volumes
per Year		  
Issues
per Year		  
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Publisher's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245
Responsible
Publisher		 Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 2060-6249 (Print)
ISSN 2060-968X (Online)

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