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 …