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.
State‐of‐the‐art health care includes genome sequencing of the patient to identify genetic variants that contribute to either the cause of their malady or variants that can be targeted to improve ...treatment. The goal was to introduce state‐of‐the‐art health care to cats using genomics and a precision medicine approach. To test the feasibility of a precision medicine approach in domestic cats, a single cat that presented to the University of Missouri, Veterinary Health Center with an undiagnosed neurologic disease was whole‐genome sequenced. The DNA variants from the cat were compared to the DNA variant database produced by the 99 Lives Cat Genome Sequencing Consortium. Approximately 25× genomic coverage was produced for the cat. A predicted p.H441P missense mutation was identified in NPC1, the gene causing Niemann‐Pick type C1 on cat chromosome D3.47456793 caused by an adenine‐to‐cytosine transversion, c.1322A>C. The cat was homozygous for the variant. The variant was not identified in any other 73 domestic and 9 wild felids in the sequence database or 190 additionally genotyped cats of various breeds. The successful effort suggested precision medicine is feasible for cats and other undiagnosed cats may benefit from a genomic analysis approach. The 99 Lives DNA variant database was sufficient but would benefit from additional cat sequences. Other cats with the mutation may be identified and could be introduced as a new biomedical model for NPC1. A genetic test could eliminate the disease variant from the population.
Felids are important in the epidemiology of
Toxoplasma gondii infection because they are the only hosts that can excrete environmentally resistant oocysts. Antibodies to
T. gondii and
Neospora ...caninum were determined in serum samples from 59 feral cats (
Felis silvestris catus) captured in baited traps during authorized predator control campaigns in Majorca, Balearic Islands, Spain. Antibodies to
T. gondii assayed by the modified agglutination test (MAT) were found in 50 (84.7%) of 59 cats with MAT titers of 1:25 in one cat, 1:200 in four cats, 1:500 in seven cats, 1:1000 in nine cats, and ≥1:2000 in 29 cats. Seroprevalence (MAT, 1:25 or more) was significantly higher in adults (94.6%
) than in juveniles (<6 months old; 40.0%). Seroprevalence to
N. caninum, assayed by cELISA (VMRD) and confirmed by an indirect fluorescent antibody test, was low (6.8%, 4 of 59). The prevalence of
T. gondii observed in wild cats in Majorca is one of the highest reported worldwide in this species and the highest observed in Europe to date. The results suggest that feral cats in Majorca have a high rate of
T. gondii infection with important implications for public health on the island since the seropositive cats are likely to have already shed
T. gondii oocysts in the environment.
•Domestic cats were monitored using radio telemetry during pre- and post-castration.•The reduction in the home range size was observed after castration.•There was a decrease in the activity pattern ...of neutered male domestic cats.•We encourage domestic cats' castration to minimize their impacts on natural areas.
The presence of domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) in natural areas can generate several environmental problems, such as competition with other species, disease transmission, and predation. Male cats generally tend to be more territorial than female cats. Male cats also tend to have larger home ranges than female cats. In this study, we used radio-telemetry monitoring to demonstrate the significant effect of the castration of males in reducing the home range of cats living in semi-domiciliary conditions that have access to natural areas. The home range was calculated based on the minimum convex polygon method (we use 100 % of the location points collected in each period: before and after castration), and the kernel method fixed points (95 % of the locations in each period). We also determine the size of the activity centers for each individual using the fixed kernel method (including 25 or 50 % of each animal's location points collected in each period). As a consequence of this reduced home range (by 79.32 %), a reduction in the overlap between domiciliary and natural areas was also observed. The male cats’ activity patterns also decreased significantly (28.72 %). Thus, the castration procedure, in addition to its potential effects on population control, may be a possible strategy for wildlife conservation.
Sarcoptic mange caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei is a worldwide-distributed skin infestation with a wide range of hosts, among them several species within the Felidae family. Sarcoptes scabiei ...was diagnosed in a dead adult female European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) from Spain, based on histological evaluation of skin biopsies and identification of the arthropod from skin scrapings and molecular methods. This is the first description of Sarcoptes scabiei in a European wildcat. Due to its critical demography in the southernmost population of the Iberian Peninsula, the impacts of infectious diseases, including sarcoptic mange, as a new potential threat should be considered during disease surveillance programs of the species’ populations.
Introgression is an important evolutionary force, which can lead to adaptation and speciation on one hand, but on the other hand also to genetic extinction. It is in the latter sense that ...introgression is a major conservation concern, especially when domestic species reproduce with their rare wild relatives. Hence, monitoring introgression in natural populations subject to hybridization is crucial to elucidate the threat represented by introgression. Here, we monitored introgression between wildcats (Felis silvestris silvestris) and domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) in a wildcat population in the Swiss Jura Mountains using systematically and non-invasively collected hair samples. We found 21 % admixed individuals based on 68 diagnostic nuclear SNP-markers, corresponding to a migration rate from domestic cats to wildcats of 0.02 migrants per generation. In contrast, gene flow from wildcats into domestic cats was negligible. Haphazard sampling of the same wildcat population, mostly via road kills, led to similar results. Hybridization occurred between wildcat male and domestic cat female and vice versa and, based on the occurrence of backcrosses, both female and male F1-hybrids seem viable and fertile. The observed hybridization pattern may indicate an expanding wildcat population with introgression as a byproduct of this expansion but alternative explanations cannot be excluded with the current data.
Hybridization is an important evolutionary force with a principal role in the origin of new species, known as hybrid speciation. However, ongoing hybridization can create hybrid swamping, in which ...parental genomes are completely lost. This can become a biodiversity threat if it involves species that have adapted to certain environmental conditions and occur nowhere else. Because conservation scientists commonly have a negative attitude toward hybrids, it is important to improve understanding of the influence of interspecific gene flow on the persistence of species. We reviewed the literature on species hybridization to build a list of all known cases in the order Carnivora. To examine the relative impact, we also noted level of introgression, whether fertile offspring were produced, and whether there was mention of negative or positive evolutionary effects (hybrid speciation and swamping). To evaluate the conservation implications of hybrids, we developed a decision‐making tree with which to determine which actions should be taken to manage hybrid species. We found 53 hybrids involving 68 unique taxa, which is roughly 23% of all carnivore species. They mainly involved monophyletic (83%) and sympatric species (75%). For 2 species, the outcome of the assessment was to eliminate or restrict the hybrids: Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis) and Scottish wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris). Both species hybridize with their domestic conspecifics. For all other cases, we suggest hybrids be protected in the same manner as native species. We found no evidence of genomic extinction in Carnivora. To the contrary, some species appear to be of hybrid origin, such as the Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) and African golden wolf (Canis lupaster). Other positive outcomes of hybridization are novel genetic diversity, adaptation to extreme environments, and increased reproductive fitness. These outcomes are particularly valuable for counterbalancing genetic drift and enabling adaptive introgression in a human‐dominated world.
Resumen
La especiación por hibridación es una fuerza evolutiva importante con un papel principal en el origen de una nueva especie. Sin embargo, la hibridación continua puede generar un estancamiento híbrido en el que se pierden por completo los genomas parentales. Esto puede convertirse en una amenaza para la biodiversidad si involucra a una especie que se ha adaptado a ciertas condiciones ambientales y sólo se encuentra en un lugar. Ya que los científicos de la conservación suelen tener una actitud negativa hacia los híbridos, es importante incrementar el entendimiento de la influencia que tiene el flujo interespecífico sobre la persistencia de las especies. Revisamos la literatura sobre la hibridación de especies para generar una lista de todos los casos conocidos en el orden Carnívora. También observamos el nivel de introgresión, si se produjo descendencia fértil y si hubo mención de los efectos evolutivos positivos o negativos (especiación híbrida y estancamiento) para analizar el impacto relativo. Desarrollamos un árbol de decisión con el cual determinar cuáles acciones deberían tomarse en el manejo de las especies híbridas para evaluar las implicaciones que tienen los híbridos para la conservación. Encontramos 53 híbridos de 68 taxones únicos, lo que representa aproximadamente el 23% de todos los carnívoros. Estos híbridos incluyen principalmente a especies monofiléticas (83%) y simpátricas (75%). Para dos especies, los resultados del análisis fueron la eliminación o restricción de los híbridos: el lobo etíope (Canis simensis) y el lince escocés (Felis silvestris silvestris). Ambas especies hibridan con sus coespecíficos domésticos. Para todos los demás casos sugerimos que se proteja a los híbridos de la misma manera que a las especies nativas. No encontramos evidencias de una extinción genómica en el orden Carnívora. Al contrario, algunas especies parecen tener un origen híbrido, como el oso negro asiático (Ursus thibetanus) y el lobo dorado africano (Canis lupaster). Otros resultados positivos de la hibridación son la diversidad genética novedosa, la adaptación a ambientes extremos y el incremento en la adaptabilidad reproductiva. Estos resultados son de valor particular para contrarrestar la deriva génica y permitir la introgresión adaptativa en un mundo dominado por humanos.
Evaluación de la especiación y estancamiento en carnívoros silvestres con una estrategia de árbol de decisión
The vast wealth of cultural artifacts and ancient biological samples can today be investigated using a great variety of methods and technologies. The result is a growing diffusion of studies on DNA, ...isotopes and morphometrics, and the exponential growth of publications and bio-archaeological discoveries of inestimable value for different areas of interpretation, such as phylogeny, history and archaeology. This paper describes the morphological and molecular study of a rare specimen of Felis from an Early Bronze Age horizon. The report offers the opportunity for a brief discussion on cat taming, on the origin of this practice and on the archaeological importance of this specimen for the reconstruction of taming practices in the Western Mediterranean Basin.
Leptospirosis is a neglected zoonotic disease transmitted by contact with the urine of animals infected with pathogenic species of the bacteria
or by contact with environments contaminated with the ...bacteria. Domestic dogs and cats may act as reservoirs or as sentinels of environmental contamination with leptospires, posing a public health concern. There is a great diversity of leptospires, and one common way to classify them is into serogroups that provide some information on the host species they are associated with. The aims of this study were: (1) to quantitatively summarize the overall prevalence and serogroup-specific prevalence of antibodies against pathogenic leptospires in asymptomatic dogs and cats and (2) to identify environmental and host characteristics that may affect the prevalence. Three electronic databases and the reference lists of eligible articles were screened, for epidemiological studies conducted between the years 2012-2022. We estimated overall and serogroup-specific prevalence using three-level meta-analysis models and assessed potential sources of heterogeneity by moderator analysis and meta-regression. Eighty-four studies met the inclusion criteria (dog studies 66.7%, cat studies 26.2%, and both species 7.1%). There were significant differences between dogs and cats in the overall prevalence model (
< 0.001), but not in the serogroup-specific model (
>0.05). In dogs, the prevalence of
serogroup Canicola was significantly higher than the other pathogenic serogroups (
< 0.001), while in cats there were no significant differences among serogroups (
= 0.373). Moderator analysis showed that the prevalence of
serogroup Grippotyphosa was significantly higher in stray/sheltered dogs than in domiciled dogs (
= 0.028). These results suggest that pathogenic serogroups associated with small mammals are circulating among asymptomatic pets and should be taken into account in the transmission cycle of leptospires, as well as in the standard MAT panel for diagnosis in dogs and cats. It also highlights the importance of including both dogs and cats as potential reservoirs when conducting eco-epidemiological studies in different geographical and ecological areas.
After historical declines in population sizes and ranges, we compare and contrast the recent history and contemporary variation in the status of Great Britain's eight native mammalian carnivore ...species from the 1960s to 2017.
Wildcat Felis silvestris conservation status is unfavourable and is masked by hybridisation with domestic cats Felis catus. Red foxes Vulpes vulpes remain widespread but are currently declining. European otter Lutra lutra, European pine marten Martes martes and European polecat Mustela putorius populations are characterised by rapid recovery. Otters have almost completely recolonised Great Britain, polecats have expanded their range throughout southern Britain from refugia in Wales and pine martens have expanded their range from the Scottish Highlands. European badgers Meles meles have generally increased in population density. Status assessments of stoats Mustela erminea and weasels Mustela nivalis are data‐deficient but available evidence suggests that stoats may have increased while weasels may have declined.
Anthropogenic processes influencing carnivore status include legal protections, habitat quality, reintroductions, predator control, pollutants, hybridisation and diseases and their associated control practices. Population effects of contaminants, such as anticoagulant rodenticides, remain poorly characterised. The widespread interface with domestic and feral cats makes the wildcat's situation precarious. Recent declines in rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus populations are a concern, given that several carnivore species depend on them as food.
We conclude that, with the exception of the wildcat, the status of Great Britain's mammalian carnivores has markedly improved since the 1960s. Better understanding of the social aspects of interactions between humans and expanding predator populations is needed if conflict is to be avoided and long‐term co‐existence with people is to be possible.
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