Study of diseases of the grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) in Italy. First isolation of the dermatophyte Microsporum cookei

The ecological risks connected with the introduction of the North American grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) in Italy are many. Of particular impor tance is the conservation of the native red squirrel (S. vulgaris) populati on, since the experience from the British Isles showed that where the grey squirrel was introduced, the autochthonous red squirrel became extinct. To determine the health status of grey squirrels trapped and euthanasized duri ng an eradication campaign in the Piedmont region, various analyses were ca rried out. This paper describes a preliminary mycological investigation. Mi crosporum cookei, a geophilic dermatophyte, was isolated for the first time from grey squirrels.