Several studies have showed the macroscopic difference in the gastrointestinal tract
between the European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) and the domestic cat (Felis
silvestris catus). Digestive system in the wildcat is shorter than in domestic species and
this feature is considered distinctive in the taxonomic classification of subjects
(Schauenberg et al. 1977). This study is a part of a large investigation regarding the
microscopic anatomy of the gastrointestinal tract of European wildcat, associated to the
study of intestinal microbiome. Its main purpose was to enhance knowledge about this
species, to get a comparison with domestic cat, and to evaluate if and how domestication
has influenced the functional and morphological development of this apparatus, also
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To this aim we collected, weighted and measured the gastrointestinal tract of twenty
European wildcats. Afterwards, intestinal sections were sampled, treated and observed at
the microscope in order to evaluate histological characteristics as the villi height and
width, crypts depth and wall thickness. Moreover, we wanted to study the intestinal
production of an apolipoprotein that is believed directly related to the development of
hepatic steatosis, decreasing the amount of lipids deposited in the liver. For this
purpose, liver specimens were collected and treated to study histologically the degree of
vacuolar degeneration of hepatocytes. Data were analyzed and compared with those of
the domestic cats coming from our database. In attempt to evaluate the microbiome,
feces and rectal ampulla were collected and sent to the Texas A&M University for
pyrosequencing analysis (data not shown).
Results demonstrated significant differences in intestinal structure between F. catus and
F. s. silvestris. Villi coming from domestic cats were significantly shorter (p<0.0001) and
wider (p<0.0142) than in wildcats that showed crypts deeper (p<0.0009).
Domestication has led to significant changes in adaptation regarding both behavior and
diet. Several studies showed the correlation between diet changes (protein,
carbohydrates, and fiber concentration) and morphological adaptation in the gut of
different species (Altmann, 1972; Hampson, 1983; Goodlad et al., 1988; Pluske et al.,
1996; Sritiawthai et al., 2013).
Moreover, data from liver study showed that domestic cat has higher levels of
apolipoprotein compared to the wild cat and that the percentage of lipids in the liver was
lower in F. catus than in F. s. silvestris. Despite these results, the liver of domestic cat
revealed a rate of steatosis higher than in wild cat. Indeed, this pathology proved to be
almost absent in wild cats and can be explained by the different nature of the two
species diet and microbiome composition.
This study revealed that transition from a strictly-carnivorous diet (typical of the wild cat)
to an omnivorous type, has modified the nutritional intake considerably and influenced
the evolution of the digestive apparatus in domestic cat.
