Introduction of alien species into new areas can have detrimental effects on native ecosystems and impact the native species. The present study aims to identify coccidia infecting native and introduced squirrels in Italy, to gain insight into possible transmission patterns and role of monoxenous coccidia in mediating the competition between alien and native hosts. We collected 540 faecal samples of native red squirrels, Sciurus vulgaris, invasive alien grey squirrels, S. carolinensis, and introduced Pallas's squirrels, Callosciurus erythraeus. Total prevalence of Eimeria spp. was 95.6% in S. vulgaris, 95.7% in S. carolinensis and only 4.1% in C. erythraeus. Morphological examination revealed 3 Eimeria morphotypes. Phylogenetic analyses of Eimeria DNA based on 18S, ITS, cox I markers displayed fairly distinct monophyletic clades in the microscopically indistinguishable E2 morphotype, proving indisputable distinction between the isolates from red and grey squirrels. Grey squirrels successfully introduced E. lancasterensis from their native range, but this species does not spill over to native red squirrels. Similarly, there is no evidence for the transmission of E. sciurorum from red to grey squirrels. The possible transmission and the potential role of monoxenous coccidia in mediating the competition between native and invasive squirrels in Italy were not confirmed.

Department of Pathology and Parasitology University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Palackeho tr 1946 1 612 42 Brno Czech Republic

Department of Pathology and Parasitology University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Palackeho tr 1946 1 612 42 Brno Czech Republic; Central European Institute of Technology University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Palackeho tr 1946 1 612 42 Brno Czech Republic

Department of Pathology and Parasitology University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Palackeho tr 1946 1 612 42 Brno Czech Republic; Central European Institute of Technology University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Palackeho tr 1946 1 612 42 Brno Czech Republic; Biology Centre Institute of Parasitology Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Branisovska 1160 31 370 05 Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic

Department of Pathology and Parasitology University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Palackeho tr 1946 1 612 42 Brno Czech Republic; Department of Botany and Zoology Zemedelska 3 613 00 Brno Czech Republic

Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences Università degli Studi dell'Insubria Via Ravasi 2 211 00 Varese VA Italy

Department of Veterinary Medicine Università degli Studi di Milano Via Celoria 10 20133 Milan Italy

Department of Veterinary Medicine Università degli Studi di Milano Via Celoria 10 20133 Milan Italy; Centro di Ricerca Coordinata Epidemiologia e Sorveglianza Molecolare delle Infezioni Università degli Studi di Milano Via Celoria 10 20133 Milan Italy

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