Unterköfler, Maria Sophia (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna) Maria Sophia Unterköfler Heddergott, Mike (Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle Luxembourg) Mike Heddergott Barogh, Bita Shahi (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna) Bita Shahi Barogh Harl, Josef (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna) Josef Harl Führer, Hans-Peter (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna) Hans-Peter Führer Ansorge, Hermann (Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Görlitz / Technical University Dresden) Hermann Ansorge Steinbach, Peter (University of Göttingen) Peter Steinbach Anders, Ole (Nationalpark Harz) Ole Anders Jeschke, Diana (Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Görlitz) Diana Jeschke Müller, Franz (Justus-Liebig-University Giessen) Franz Müller Hrazdilová, Kristýna (Mendel University Brno / Charles University Pilsen) Kristýna Hrazdilová Spergser, Joachim (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna) Joachim Spergser Elsevier 2022 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. PDFDocument en 2023-09-08T11:11:19.764Z Candidatus Mycoplasma-Haemominutum; Cytauxzoon-Felis; Domestic Cats; Anaplasma-Phagocytophilum; Phylogenetic Analysis; Amblyomma-Americanum; 1st Detection; Prevalence; Transmission; Infections 707644 b application/pdf CC BY 4.0 International