What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to investigate the role of red foxes as definitive hosts for Sarcocystis species infecting ungulates in Europe.

February 11, 2026Open Access

Molecular Evidence of the Role of the Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) in the Epidemiology of Ungulate-Related Sarcocystis Species in Croatia, Lithuania, and Portugal

Key Points

The aim is to investigate the role of red foxes as definitive hosts for Sarcocystis species infecting ungulates in Europe.
Collected 164 faecal samples from red foxes in Croatia, Lithuania, and Portugal.
Analysed samples using nested PCR targeting the cox1 gene.
Identified twelve Sarcocystis species present in the samples.
Conducted phylogenetic and haplotype analyses to assess genetic diversity.
Identified 12 Sarcocystis species, including S. arieticanis and S. cruzi.
Highest prevalence of Sarcocystis species found in Croatia (78%) and Lithuania (62%), lowest in Portugal (30%).
Phylogenetic analysis showed high homogeneity and no geographic structuring in the Sarcocystis species.

Abstract

Sarcocystis spp. (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae) are globally distributed protozoan parasites with an obligatory two-host prey–predator life cycle involving intermediate (IHs) and definitive hosts (DHs). Canids, including the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), often serve as DHs for species infecting various ungulates. This study identified Sarcocystis species in red foxes from Croatia, Lithuania, and Portugal. Between 2021 and 2024, 164 faecal samples (80 from Croatia, 50 from Portugal, and 34 from Lithuania) were analysed using nested PCR targeting the cox1 gene. Twelve Sarcocystis species were detected: S. arieticanis, S. capracanis, S. capreolicanis, S. cruzi, S. gracilis, S. hjorti, S. iberica, S. linearis, S. miescheriana, S. morae, S. rossii, and S. tenella. The overall prevalence was highest in Croatia (78%) and Lithuania (62%) and lowest in Portugal (30%). Phylogenetic and haplotype analyses revealed high homogeneity and absence of geographic structuring. These results confirm the red fox as a key DH for multiple Sarcocystis species infecting European ungulates and underscore its epidemiological importance in parasite transmission across diverse ecosystems.

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