Host specificity plays one of the key roles in parasitism. It affects the evolution and diversification of both host and parasite, as well as it influences their geographical distribution, and epidemiological significance. For most of parasites, however, host specificity is unknown or misrepresented because it is difficult to be determined accurately. Here we provide the information about the lower host specificity of Eimeria sciurorum infecting squirrels, and its new host record for the Calabrian black squirrel Sciurus meridionalis, a southern Italian endemic species.

Department of Animal Health Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno Portici Italy

Department of Integrative Marine Ecology Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn Naples Italy

Department of Parasitology Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czechia

Department of Pathology and Parasitology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno Brno Czechia

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