infection in a red fox on Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Objective: Molecular identification of small cestodes, morphologically consistent with , recovered at necropsy from the gastrointestinal tract contents of a red fox, was accomplished by PCR using published species-specific primers and methods.

Animal: Red fox .

Procedure: Small cestodes recovered from intestinal contents of a red fox trapped on Prince Edward Island in December 2020 (frozen at -20°C before being processed for parasite recovery in June 2021) were morphologically identified. Species identity confirmation and haplotyping of the cestodes were done PCR and DNA sequencing of the , and genes.

Results: Small cestodes morphologically consistent with were detected in the gastrointestinal tract contents of a red fox trapped near Montague, PEI. The species identity was confirmed PCR. Haplotyping revealed that they were of the European E1 haplotype.

Conclusion: In Canada, has been reported as far east as Québec, with most reports being in central and western provinces and territories. This is the first report of infection in a canid host east of Ontario, Canada and illustrates the need for regular wildlife disease surveillance to enhance our understanding of emerging pathogens of veterinary and medical importance.

Clinical Relevance: is a highly pathogenic zoonotic cestode from the family that can cause alveolar echinococcosis (AE) when rodents, dogs, horses, pigs, non-human primates, or humans ingest its eggs. Alveolar echinococcosis is challenging to treat, and survival rates for untreated individuals are low.