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Cytauxzoonosis is an emerging, tick-transmitted, protozoan disease affecting domestic and wild felids and caused by Cytauxzoon felis, Cytauxzoon manul and Cytauxzoon spp. This study aimed to determine the presence of infection with Cytauxzoon spp. in Felis silvestris silvestris in Italy, in order to enhance the comprehension of its pattern distribution among domestic cat populations. In addition, wildcats were tested for other endemic vector-borne pathogens in Italy. The carcasses of 21 F. s. silvestris were collected from central and northern regions of Italy. All the animals were submitted to necropsy and samples of the spleens were collected. Cytauxzoon infection was surveyed by a conventional PCR amplifying a portion of the SSU-rDNA of species of Piroplasmida. The samples were also screened for Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., Rickettsia spp., Babesia spp., Theileria spp., and Leishmania spp. using SYBR Green Real-Time PCR (rPCR) assays. Four animals (19%) were positive for Piroplasmida-PCR assay and three sequenced amplicons were obtained (14.3%), clustering with the Italian, Spanish, French and Romanian Cytauxzoon spp. isolates and with C. manul found in Mongolia. The samples were negative for the other pathogens screened. The present results showed that Cytauxzoon spp. may infect both F. s. silvestris and F. s. catus.

International audience; Knowledge of patterns of occupancy is crucial for planning sound biological management and for identifying areas which require paramount conservation attention. The European wildcat Felis silvestris is an elusive carnivore and is classified as ‘least concern' on the IUCN red list, but with a decreasing population trend in some areas. Sicily hosts a peculiar wildcat population, which deserves conservation and management actions, due to its isolation from the mainland. Patterns of occupancy for wildcats are unknown in Italy, and especially in Sicily. We aimed to identify which ecological drivers determined wildcat occurrence on Mt Etna and to provide conservation actions to promote the wildcats’ long-term survival in this peculiar environment. The genetic identity of the wildcat population was confirmed through a scat-collection which detected 22 different wildcat individuals. We analysed wildcat detections collected by 91 cameras using an occupancy frame work to assess which covariates influenced the detection (p) and the occupancy (ψ) estimates. We recorded 70 detections of the target species from 38 cameras within 3377 trap-days. Wildcat detection was positively influenced by the distance to the major paved roads and negatively affected by the presence of humans. Wildcat occupancy was positively associated with mixed forest and negatively influenced by pine forest, fragmentation of mixed forest and altitude. A spatially explicit predicted occupancy map, validated using an independent dataset of wildcat presence records, showed that higher occupancy estimates were scattered, mainly located on the north face and at lower altitude. Habitat fragmentation has been claimed as a significant threat for the wildcat and this is the first study that has ascertained this as a limiting factor for wildcat occurrence. Conservation actions should promote interconnectivity between areas with high predicted wildcat occupancy while minimising the loss of habitat.

The European wildcat is an elusive felid that is declining across its range. Sicily hosts a distinctive insular wildcat population, the conservation of which requires much better ecological knowledge than is currently available, particularly population density. We simultaneously used two noninvasive methods (camera-trapping and scat-collection) to estimate the population density of wildcats on the Etna volcano. We conducted genetic analyses to identify individuals and to detect potential hybridization with the domestic cat. We analyzed individual capture-histories from camera-trapping and scat-collection using the spatially explicit capture-recapture (SECR) model. Furthermore, we applied the random encounter model (REM), which does not require individual identification, to the camera-trapping data. We identified 14 wildcats from 70 photographic detections (6.48 detections/100 trap-days) obtained from 1080 camera-trapping days over 4 months, and we estimated to have identified all the individuals living in the study area (10.9 km−2). On the contrary, we identified 10 wildcats from 14 out of 39 scats collected from 391 km of transects walked. The estimated densities (individuals km−2 ± se) were 0.32 ± 0.1 (SECR camera-trapping), 1.36 ± 0.73 (SECR scat-collection) and 0.39 ± 0.03 (REM). The population density estimates obtained from SECR camera-trapping and REM overlapped, although we recommend care when applying the latter. The SECR scat-collection gave the highest population density (and less precise) estimates because of the low number of capture and recaptures; however, the population size estimated with this method matched the number of individuals photographed. The population density of the wildcat in Etna falls in the medium-high range of those reported in literature, highlighting the role of this ecosystem for the long-term conservation of the wildcat in Sicily. Camera-trapping is confirmed as a useful tool to assess the wildcat population density and, in this case, was complemented by the genetic analysis that confirmed individual identity.

The wildcat is an elusive species that is threatened with extinction in many areas of its European distribution. In Sicily the wildcat lives in a wide range of habitats; this study was done on Mount Etna. In 2006, after an exploration of the study area, we used camera traps with the aim of obtaining photographs of the wildcat. After this pilot study we used the experience and data collected to develop a protocol to provide an estimation of the density of the wildcat's population using capture–recapture analyses and the natural coat-marking system to recognize different specimens. We placed two trapping lines adjacent to each other that were run in two consecutive data collection periods. Camera traps worked together for 671 trap-days and we obtained 27 pictures of wildcats, from which we were able to determine 9 different specimens. Then we constructed the history capture of each individual and we used the software CAPTURE to generate an estimation of the density of our study area (0.93 ± 0.13 wi...

The increasing focus on infections in domestic cats ( Felis catus ) has raised questions about lungworm distribution in wild hosts. To enhance knowledge of the occurrence of lungworms in enzootic regions of central Italy, we examined the carcasses of 16 European wildcats ( Felis silvestris silvestris). Adult nematodes, feces, respiratory flushings, and pulmonary tissues were collected at necropsy and then microscopically and genetically analyzed. Fourteen wildcats had single or mixed lungworm species. Aelurostrongylus abstrusus was the most common parasite retrieved, followed by Troglostrongylus brevior. In addition, three specimens of Angiostrongylus chabaudi were found in the pulmonary arteries of one wildcat. Histologically, the most common lesions were a mild-to-severe chronic catarrhal bronchitis and a chronic interstitial pneumonia with smooth muscle hypertrophy, associated with T. brevior and A. abstrusus , respectively. These results demonstrate that the European wildcats may harbor several species of lungworms that may impair their health and welfare. Also, F. s. silvestris is a potential reservoir for respiratory nematodes in domestic cats.

Previous studies on the feeding habits of the European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) have shown high variability in the diet and in the degree of trophic specialisation of this felid. In order to update and improve the knowledge about the feeding habits of this carnivore, its diet and trophic niche in Italy were examined based on the material collected in 1996–2003 and compared with data obtained in 1968–1987 and with those from literature concerning other European areas. The present study pointed out that in Italy, the European wildcat displayed a broad dietary spectrum. Rodents permanently constituted the main food category; however, the most consumed prey shifted from Cricetidae in the past to Muridae more recently. Through time, the felid has changed its main prey and exploited a greater number of food categories reducing the predominant consumption of some of them. These changes involved an increase of the diet diversity resulting in a widening of the trophic niche and an incomplete niche overlap between time periods. Long-term changes in diet and trophic niche of the European wildcat which were found in this study indicate high flexibility of its feeding habits. This was confirmed by a review of the relevant literature on wildcat diet in Europe, which highlights the ability of this felid to either specialise on different main food items or to widen its feeding spectrum depending on the availability of prey.

The European wildcat is threatened by habitat fragmentation, illegal or incidental killings and hybridization with free-ranging domestic cats. Conservation projects should be based on a sound knowledge of the patterns of wildcat distribution, population size and dynamics. However, this information is scanty, mainly because of the species’ elusive behaviour. In this study, we tested the efficiency of a protocol that integrates the use of non-invasive genetic identifications and camera trapping for wildcat monitoring. The field work was carried out in the Foreste Casentinesi National Park, a protected area in the central Italian Apennines, where wildcat presence has been recently ascertained. DNA samples were extracted from scats collected during the survey and hair tufts trapped by valerian-treated sticks. Individual genotypes were identified using 10 autosomal microsatellites, mtDNA and Y chromosome markers. Additionally, we obtained 30-s long video clips from 20 camera trap stations associated to the hair traps. Our results confirmed the presence of wildcats in the study area. We identified six to nine wildcat individuals (respectively from non-invasive genetic sampling and camera trapping survey). Some of these showed anomalous coat colour patterns (one) or genetic signatures of hybridization (three). We further identified five domestic cats that were sharing parts of wildcats’ territories. We found individual variations in the response to valerian lure. We compared and evaluated the pros and cons of these monitoring methods. We concluded that, if used simultaneously, these methods may considerably increase the efficiency of wildcat detection and the quality of collected data.

Methods recently developed to infer population structure and admixture mostly use individual genotypes described by unlinked neutral markers. However, Hardy-Weinberg and linkage disequilibria among independent markers decline rapidly with admixture time, and the admixture signals could be lost in a few generations. In this study, we aimed to describe genetic admixture in 182 European wild and domestic cats (Felis silvestris), which hybridize sporadically in Italy and extensively in Hungary. Cats were genotyped at 27 microsatellites, including 21 linked loci mapping on five distinct feline linkage groups. Genotypes were analysed with structure 2.1, a Bayesian procedure designed to model admixture linkage disequilibrium, which promises to assess efficiently older admixture events using tightly linked markers. Results showed that domestic and wild cats sampled in Italy were split into two distinct clusters with average proportions of membership Q > 0.90, congruent with prior morphological identifications. In contrast, free-living cats sampled in Hungary were assigned partly to the domestic and the wild cat clusters, with Q < 0.50. Admixture analyses of individual genotypes identified, respectively, 5/61 (8%), and 16-20/65 (25-31%) hybrids among the Italian wildcats and Hungarian free-living cats. Similar results were obtained in the past using unlinked loci, although the new linked markers identified additional admixed wildcats in Italy. Linkage analyses confirm that hybridization is limited in Italian, but widespread in Hungarian wildcats, a population that is threatened by cross-breeding with free-ranging domestic cats. The total panel of 27 loci performed better than the linked loci alone in the identification of domestic and known hybrid cats, suggesting that a large number of linked plus unlinked markers can improve the results of admixture analyses. Inferred recombination events led to identify the population of origin of chromosomal segments, suggesting that admixture mapping experiments can be designed also in wild populations.

Crossbreeding with free-ranging domestic cats is supposed to threaten the genetic integrity of wildcat populations in Europe, although the diagnostic markers to identify "pure" or "admixed" wildcats have never been clearly defined. Here we use mitochondrial (mt) DNA sequences and allelic variation at 12 microsatellite loci to genotype 128 wild and domestic cats sampled in Italy which were preclassified into three separate groups: European wildcats (Felis silvestris silvestris), Sardinian wildcats (Felis silvestris libyca), and domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus), according to their coat color patterns, collection localities, and other phenotypical traits, independently of any genetic information. For comparison, we included some captive-reared hybrids of European wild and domestic cats. Genetic variability was significantly partitioned among the three groups (mtDNA estimate of F(ST) = 0.36; microsatellite estimate of R(ST) = 0.30; P < 0.001), suggesting that morphological diversity reflects the existence of distinct gene pools. Multivariate ordination of individual genotypes and clustering of interindividual genetic distances also showed evidence of distinct cat groups, partially congruent with the morphological classification. Cluster analysis, however, did not enable hybrid cats to be identified from genetic information alone, nor were all individuals assigned to their populations. In contrast, a Bayesian admixture analysis simultaneously assigned the European wildcats, the Sardinian wildcats, and the domestic cats to different clusters, independent of any prior information, and pointed out the admixed gene composition of the hybrids, which were assigned to more than one cluster. Only one putative Sardinian wildcat was assigned to the domestic cat cluster, and one presumed European wildcat showed mixed (hybrid) ancestry in the domestic cat gene pool. Mitochondrial DNA sequences indicated that three additional presumed European wildcats might have hybrid ancestry. These four cats were sampled from the same area in the northernmost edge of the European wildcat distribution in the Italian Apennines. Admixture analyses suggest that wild and domestic cats in Italy are distinct, reproductively isolated gene pools and that introgression of domestic alleles into the wild-living population is very limited and geographically localized.

Populations of Felis silvestris, the European, Asian and African wildcats, and the domestic cat, are characterized by a variable, genetically controlled, coat‐colour and markings system. Samples of the three Italian cats, the European, the Sardinian (belonging to the African group) and the domestic striped tabby were studied for com position and occurrence of coat‐colour and markings patterns, as well as for their association with craniometric and splanchnometric categories. Intergroup differences in the coat‐colour and markings system were consistent with known metric differences. It was thus possible to distinguish, objectively, the three cats from each other by means of coat patterns, even more clearly than with metric procedures. Distances between taxa, calculated through the relative frequencies of the coat patterns, were fully consistent with those measured from allele frequencies for polymorphic loci. This confirm ed the polytypical species status of Felis silvestris.

The wildcat is an elusive species that is threatened with extinction in many areas of its European distribution. In Sicily the wildcat lives in a wide range of habitats; this study was done on Mount Etna. A previous camera trap monitoring was conducted in 2006 (pilot study) and 2007 (first estimation of wildcat population size using camera trapping with capture-recapture analyses) in the same study area. In 2009 digital camera traps in pair were used at each station with the aim of obtaining photographs of the wildcat. Experience and data collected from previous studies were used to develop a protocol to estimate the density of the wildcat’s population using capture–recapture analyses and the coat-colour and markings system to recognize individuals. Two trap-lines adjacent to each other were run in two consecutive data collection periods. Camera traps worked together for 1080 trap-days and we obtained 42 pictures of wildcats from 32 events of photographic capture, from which 10 individuals ( excluding four kittens) were determined. The history capture of each individual was constructed and the software CAPTURE was used to generate an estimation of the population density (0.22 to 0.44 wildcat/100 ha) for our study area using two different approaches for the calculation of the effective area sampled. The wildcat’s population density on Mount Etna is higher than those found throughout Europe, and is favoured by the habitat structure, prey availability, Mediterranean climate and the protection status provided by the park.

In modern taxonomy, DNA barcoding is particularly useful where biometric parameters are difficult to determine or useless owing to the poor quality of samples. These situations are frequent in parasitology. Here, we present an integrated study, based on both DNA barcoding and morphological analysis, on cestodes belonging to the genus Taenia, for which biodiversity is still largely underestimated. In particular, we characterized cestodes from Italian wildcats (Felis silvestris silvestris), free-ranging domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) and hybrids populations. Adult taeniids were collected by post-mortem examinations of the hosts and morphologically identified as Taenia taeniaeformis. We produced cox1 barcode sequences for all the analysed specimens, and we compared them with reference sequences of individuals belonging to the genus Taenia retrieved from GenBank. In order to evaluate the performance of a DNA barcoding approach to discriminate these parasites, the strength of correlation between species identification based on classical morphology and the molecular divergence of cox1 sequences was measured. Our study provides clear evidence that DNA barcoding is highly efficient to reveal the presence of cryptic lineages within already-described taeniid species. Indeed, we detected three well-defined molecular lineages within the whole panel of specimens morphologically identified as T. taeniaeformis. Two of these molecular groups were already identified by other authors and should be ranked at species level. The third molecular group encompasses only samples collected in Italy during this study, and it represents a third candidate species, still morphologically undescribed.

Genetic variability and phylogenetic relationships among domestic and wild populations of cats were studied by allozyme electrophoresis. Tissues were obtained from 67 specimens of European wild cats ( Felis silvestris silvestris ), African wild cats ( F. s. libyca ), and domestic cats from Italy; 54 presumptive loci were resolved. The average proportion of polymorphic loci and heterozygosity were P = 0.11, H = 0.042 in the wild cat, and P = 0.20, H = 0.066 in the domestic cat. Despite reduced genetic variability, local populations of wild cats were not inbred, as indicated by nonsignificant F IS values. Both F ST and Nei's genetic distances between domestic and wild populations were low ( F ST = 0.04; D = 0.0082). Dendrograms indicate that the domestic cat belongs to the African wild cat lineage, which supports current hypotheses on cat domestication. Based on the genetic evidence, we suggest that the European wild cat, the African wild cat, and the domestic cat belong to the same polytypic species ( Felis silvestris Schreber, 1777), and that the European and African wild cats diverged approximately 20,000 years ago.

The genetic integrity and evolutionary persistence of declining wildcat populations are threatened by crossbreeding with widespread free-living domestic cats. Here we use allelic variation at 12 microsatellite loci to describe genetic variation in 336 cats sampled from nine European countries. Cats were identified as European wildcats (Felis silvestris silvestris), Sardinian wildcats (F. s. libyca) and domestic cats (F. s. catus), according to phenotypic traits, geographical locations and independently of any genetic information. Genetic variability was significantly partitioned among taxonomic groups (FST = 0.11; RST = 0.41; P < 0.001) and sampling locations (FST = 0.07; RST = 0.06; P < 0.001), suggesting that wild and domestic cats are subdivided into distinct gene pools in Europe. Multivariate and Bayesian clustering of individual genotypes also showed evidence of distinct cat groups, congruent with current taxonomy, and suggesting geographical population structuring. Admixture analyses identified cryptic hybrids among wildcats in Portugal, Italy and Bulgaria, and evidenced instances of extensive hybridization between wild and domestic cats sampled in Hungary. Cats in Hungary include a composite assemblage of variable phenotypes and genotypes, which, as previously documented in Scotland, might originate from long lasting hybridization and introgression. A number of historical, demographic and ecological conditions can lead to extensive crossbreeding between wild and domestic cats, thus threatening the genetic integrity of wildcat populations in Europe.

BIOGEOGHAPH/A — vol. XVII — 199.3‘ (Pubblicato il 31 ottobre 1994) ll popolamento animale e vegetale de|i'Appennino Umbra-Marchigiano The Wfldcat in Central-Northern italian peninsula: a biogeographical dilemma BERNARDINO RAGNI(qq‘), MARIAGRAZIA POSSENTI(*), ANDREA SFORZI(qq’), DANIELE ZAVALLONI(q“qq‘) e FERDINANDO CIANI (q'“qq“q”qq) (“q‘) Irtzimto dz‘ Zoologzkz, Far. dz' Scienze M. F. N, Um'11ersz'td dz' Pemgzkz (qq“qq) Mzzseo Cz'z2z'c0 di Storzlz Ncztumle (ii Grosxeto (qqq“) Aziezzda Regzbmzle delle Forerte, Regzbne E77zz'Zz'a Romagmz (qqqqqq“qq) Centro dzq Scienze Ncztumli di Prato Key words: Wfldcat, Apennine, Biogeography. SUMMARY Following standard procedures of chorologic monitoring specific for subregional and regional areas, the taxon was not found in the Apennine subregion between the Esino River (Province of Ancona) and Arroscia River (Provinces of Savona-Imperia). The biogeographical gap cannot ecologically be accounted for by those factors considered relevant for the species; i.e., bioclimate, spontaneous wood vegetation, populations of Ar- vicolids and Murids. Assessment of the conditions and previous modifications of the range and environment that we could «reconstruct», suggests that after the stress due to Glaciations the species, from south has not reached yet the central—northern part of the peninsula. RIASSUNTO Seguendo procedure standard di monitoraggio corologico, specifico per aree subregionali e regionali, il gatto selvatico europeo non risulta attualmente presente nella sub—regione peninsulare italiana tra il corso del Fiume Esino (Provincia di Ancona) e il corso del Torrente Arroscia (Province di Savona—Imperia). H gap bio- geografico non sembra ecologicamente motivato, relativamente a fattori ritenuti caratterizzanti l’-ambiente di vita della specie. Ricerche di campo e ricognizioni bibliografiche, infatti, mostrano condizioni omogenee del bioclima, della vegetazione legnosa spontanea, delle popolazioni d.i Arvicolidi e Muridj, tra l’area di assenza del felide e il suo attualeareale italiano accertato. L’analisi delle condizioni e delle modificazioni pregresse del- l’areale e dell’ambiente, che ‘e stato possibile «ricostrujre», suggeriscono l’ipotesi che la specie sia scomparsa dall'area anzidetta in seguito allo stress prodotto dalle glaciazioni pleistoceniche. E possibile, quindi, che il gatto selvatico non abbia ancora raggiunto, dal meridjone, la penisola centro-settentrionale, anche a causa di precoci modificazioni ambientali provocate da]l’uomo. «Distanzegg morfologiche e genetiche, misurate tra campioni di attuali popolazioni separate del felide, non contrastano tale ipotesi. INTRODUCTION The wildcat of the Old World, as it has been colourfully addressed by Haltenorth (1953), can be considered one of the most biologically succesful

BIOGEOGHAPHIA - vol. XIII - 1987 Biogeografia delle Alpi Sud-Orientali Situazione attuale del gatto selvatico Fells sz'lvesz‘1/2'5 sz'lz2esm's e della lince Lynx lynx nell’area delle Alpi sud-orientali BERNARDINO RAGNI(q), LUCA LAPINI(q*), FRANCO PERCO(qq“q‘) (*) Istz'z‘ut0 di Zoologizz Unz'ver.tz'td dz' Perugzkz - Pemgia (qq‘) Museo Friulano dz’ Storzkz Naturnle - Udine (qqqq“) Orservzztorio Faunz'_tz‘z'co di Pordenone — Pordenone SUMMARY The authors examine the present situation of european wild cat (EWC) and lynx (L) in northeastern Italy. After the examination of 56 records for wild cats and 38 for lynx they conclude that EWC lives a very good populational situation in this area, while for lynx a critical examination of records and sightings suggests that in NE Italy the only stabilized population lives in the southern Dolomites (Trentino-Alto Adige). The lynx is also present in Friuli—Venezia Giulia but only occasionally. The authors give also ecological, rnorphometrical and ornamentational considerations on EWC and compare the NE Italy si- tuation with that of the rest of Italy. PREMESSA ll Gatto selvatico Felix sz‘lve:z‘rz‘5 silvestris Schreber, 1777 e la Lince Lynx lynx (L.) sono gli unici rappresentanti della famiglia Felidae della fauna at- tuale (Olocene) italiana. Il Gatto selvatico e una specie politipica (HEMMER 1978, RAGNI 8: RANDI 1986) distribuita nella regione paleartica, etiopica e nella sottoregione indiana di quella orientale (HALTENORTH 1953, PO- COCK 1951). ll gruppo sz'lvesz‘rz's, Gatto selvatico europeo, e un elernento europeo della fascia temperata e mediterranea (CORBET 1978) abita la Sici- lia e la Penisola, mentre la forrna sczrcla, appartenente al gruppo lzlayccz, Gatto selvatico africano, abita l’isola cli Sardegna (RAGNI, 1981) e, probabilrnente, la Corsica (ARRIGHI 8: SALOTTI in starnpa). Una recente revisione tassonomica (WERDELIN 1981) delle linci olarti— che, fossili e attuali, sostiene la separazione dei generi Lynx e Fells, distin- guendo, per il Paleartico occidentale, Lynx lynx da Lynx pardina (Temminck, 1824). La Lince autoctona alpina risulta appartenere a Lynx lynx, possibil- rnente differenziata in un ecotipo (SCHAUENBERG 1969, RAGNI in prep) Mentre le linci preistoriche peninsulari potevano appartenere, sirnpatrica1r1en— te, al gruppo lynx e al gruppo pczrdinn (FICCARELLI & TORRE 1975) la presenza storica recente della Lince nella Penisola e in Sicilia e sostenuta esclusivarnente cla docurnenti hibliografici e iconografici (TASSI 1971, RA- GNI in prep). Alcune ricognizioni prelirninari, condotte dal 1979 al 1983, avevano evi- 867