High Prevalence of Antigens of and Specific Antibodies Against Various Viral Pathogens in European Wildcats (Felis silvestris) from Southwest Germany, 2020-22.

Abstract

The recent expansion of the European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) and increasing numbers of domestic cats in Germany are leading to more interactions between domestic cats and wildcats. Not only hybridization, but also the reciprocal transmission of pathogens may occur. This could threaten wildcat populations, or they may act as a reservoir for their domestic relatives. In this study, 102 effusion fluid samples collected from wildcats found dead between 2020 and 2022 in the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate were serologically tested for antigens of and specific antibodies against viral pathogens typically found in domestic cats (feline herpesvirus [FHV], feline calicivirus [FCV], feline parvovirus [FPV], feline immunodeficiency virus [FIV], feline coronavirus [FCoV], and feline leukemia virus [FeLV]). Antigens of and/or specific antibodies against at least one virus were detected in 59% of the wildcats. Detected prevalences of specific antibodies against FHV (22.5%), FCV (20.6%), FPV (13.7%), FIV (0%), and FCoV (17.6%) were each 0-22.5%. The prevalence of antigens of FeLV was 28.4%. The high prevalence detected for FeLV antigens possibly shows that wildcats form a reservoir for this virus, as the prevalence in domestic cat populations is significantly lower.