European wildcats (Felis silvestris silvestris) have not been investigated in large numbers for blood-associated pathogens in Germany, because wildcats, being a protected species, may not be hunted, and the collection of samples is therefore difficult. Thus, spleen tissue and whole blood from 96 wildcats from Germany found as roadkill or dead from other causes in the years 1998-2020 were examined for the prevalence of blood associated pathogens using molecular genetic tools. PCR was used to screen for haemotrophic Mycoplasma spp., Hepatozoon spp., Cytauxzoon spp., Bartonella spp., Filarioidea, Anaplasmataceae, and Rickettsiales, and positive samples were subsequently sequenced. Phylogenetic analyses were performed for Mycoplasma spp. and Hepatozoon spp. by calculating phylogenetic trees and DNA haplotype networks. The following pathogens were found: Candidatus Mycoplasma haematominutum (7/96), Mycoplasma ovis (1/96), Hepatozoon silvestris (34/96), Hepatozoon felis (6/96), Cytauxzoon europaeus (45/96), and Bartonella spp. (3/96). This study elucidates the prevalence of blood-associated pathogens in wildcats from Germany.

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Mendel University Brno Czech Republic

Faculty of Chemistry University of Göttingen Germany

Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen Biomedical Center Charles University Pilsen Czech Republic

Institute of Microbiology Department of Pathobiology University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Austria

Institute of Parasitology Department of Pathobiology University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Austria

Institute of Pathology Department of Pathobiology University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Austria

International Institute Zittau Technical University Dresden Zittau Germany

Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle Luxembourg

Nationalpark Harz Sankt Andreasberg Germany

Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Görlitz Germany

Working Group for Wildlife Research Justus Liebig University Giessen Germany

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