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Diakou, A.; Migli, D.; Dimzas, D.; Morelli, S.; di Cesare, A.; Youlatos, D.; Lymberakis, P.; Traversa, D.
Endoparasites of European Wildcats (_Felis silvestris_) in Greece
2021  Pathogens (10): 594

The European wildcat (_Felis silvestris_) is the only wild felid living in Greece. Wildcat populations are declining due to anthropogenic and phenological unfavourable conditions, and parasites may have an additional negative impact. In the present study, the occurrence of endoparasites in wildcats in Greece and the potential threats posed to wildcats, domestic animals, and humans in the study areas has been investigated. In a six-year period, 23 road-killed wildcats and 62 wildcat faecal samples were collected from different areas of the country. Necropsy for the detection of endoparasites and standard parasitological examinations of faecal samples were performed. Parasites were morphologically identified and, in selected cases, molecularly analysed. All necropsied wildcats (100%) were infected by three to 10 different parasite taxa, with the most prevalent being _Taenia taeniaeformis_ (73.9%), _Toxocara cati_ (60.9%), _Angiostrongylus chabaudi_ (56.5%), _Ancylostoma tubaeforme_ (39.1%), _Cylicospirura_ spp. (34.8%), _Troglostrongylus brevior_ (34.8%), and _Capillaria aerophila_ (33.8%). Of the 62 faecal samples examined, 53 (85.5%) were positive for one or more parasite elements (larvae, eggs, or oocysts). The most frequent were _T. cati_ (45.2%), _A. chabaudi_ (29%), _C. aerophila_ (24.2%), and Ancylostomatidae (17.7%). This is the first survey on endoparasites affecting wildcats in Greece. Some of the parasites here found are frequent in domestic and wild felids, while others, i.e., _Oslerus rostratus_ and _Cylicospirura petrowi_, were described for the first time in the European wildcat. Most of them have a significant pathogenic potential, causing severe to hazardous diseases to infected felids and some, under specific circumstances, can also threaten human health.

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