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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 23h

Happy #SkullSaturday ft the raccoon (Procyon lotor) 🦝! Northern raccoons are one of three Procyon species and live all through North America! Raccoons are rabies vectors along the entire East Coast and multiple states in the Midwest and Plains states! #raccoons #procyonidae #rabies

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Happy #MicroscopeMonday 🔬ft a gastric neuroendocrine tumor in a bearded dragon! Bearded dragons have a high prevalence of this tumor that originates primarily in the pyloric mucosa, are highly aggressive with consistent hepatic metastasis and intravascular tumor emboli. #beardeddragons #tumors

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Last week was #nationalpostdocappreciationweek and I got to present a poster at the @uwmadison.bsky.social PostDoc Symposium showing some parasitized frogs 🐸 my fellowship with @uwvetmed.bsky.social and @usgs-quakebot.bsky.social !! Stay tuned for the future publication!! #amphibian #parasitology

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Happy #MicroscopeMonday 🔬 fr an American black bear 🧠 with GM1-gangliosidosis! GM1 is a sphingolipidoses lysosomal storage disease with a beta-galactosidase deficiency. It has an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern with a defective GLB1 gene. #blackbear #neuropathology #storagedisease

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

My first every first author manuscript has been accepted!! I’m excited for everyone to read up on GM1 gangliosidosis in black bears in the Journal of Wildlife Diseases soon!! 🧠🐻 #blackbears #scientificpublication #science #veterinarypathology #neuropathology #lysosomalstoragediseases

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Happy #microscopemonday with Trichomonas gallinae immunohistochemistry in a house finch esophagus! T. gallinae is a flagellate protozoal parastite that infects respiratory and GI tract of pigeons, finches, and raptors! It is called canker or croup in pigeons and frounce in raptors. #birds #parasite

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

If you haven’t had the opportunity to listen to my episode with Lucy from @wineandcrimepod.bsky.social about Veterinary Pathology, please take a listen!! It was such a fun opportunity to talk about vet pathology in a zoo setting!! #wineandcrimepodcast #veterinarypathology #spookylilbitch #zoo

open.spotify.com

(Uncorked Exclusive) Spooky Lil Bitch: Veterinary Pathologist

Wine & Crime · Episode

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

We are back with #MicroscopeMonday🔬 with a Ziehl-Neelsen Acid fast stain highlighting Mycobacterium avium complex in a wild mallard 🦆! M. Avium can be a major issue in waterfowl in human care. M. avium ssp. paratuberculosis causes Johne’s disease in cattle! #mycobacteria #aviantuberculosis

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

We return for #SkullSaturday ft the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis)🦨 in honor of @jwdragoo.bsky.social ‘s @ologies.bsky.social Mephitology episode!! One of the most recognizable animals in N. America, striped skunks have been associated with humans due to the fur and pet trade! #stripedskunk

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

In my fellowship, I have the opportunity to write about interesting cases that come through the National Wildlife Health center to show the pathology and current state of the disease for Pathology Case of the Month! Take a read of ranavirus in salamanders! #salamanders #pathology #wildlifediseases

usgs.gov

Ranavirus in a Barred Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma mavortium)

Author(s): Natalie Sylvia ToccoHistory: Mass mortality reported in Barred Tiger Salamanders (Ambystoma mavortium) in Idaho, USA. Clinical signs include ataxia, erratic swimming, inability to stay upri...

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Hi all! My friend is doing her PhD thesis involving black women in higher education! If you qualify or know someone who does, I encourage you to participate! Google form here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... #dei #blackwomeninhighereducation #blackwomeninstem #phddissertation

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Love the opportunity to present at the pathology workshop at the Wildlife Disease Association!! Got to present on a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a juvenile bobcat! #wildlifehealth

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

I did another interview!! Check out my interview with Dr. John Beaumont from The Practical Animal about a career in Wildlife Veterinary Pathology! www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6X7...

youtube.com

THANATOS IS WHO YOU SEE ON THE SLAB, BUT THE GODDESSES OF VIOLENT DEATH PUT HIM THERE.

YouTube video by The Practical Animal

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

In honor of International Ungulate Day, today’s #SkullSaturday features my pronghorn skull! Frequently mistaken as an antelope, it is a native to western and middle North America. It is the only surviving member of the family Antilcapridae separating itself from bovids and related to 🦒 and okapi!

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Forgot to share this here but back in April, I was interviewed for a UW radio show talking about being a zoo and Wildife pathologist! Check it out below! open.spotify.com/episode/1am7...

open.spotify.com

Elephant Autopsies with Natalie Tocco

You Seem Exceptional · Episode

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Happy #MicroscopeMonday 🔬ft a bacterial embolus in the glomerulus of an American badger 🦡 . This badger had a head wound that allowed bacteria to invade opportunistically causing bacterial septicemia allowing for bacterial emboli to arrive in multiple organs. Bacteria are cocci like Staph or Strep!

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Happy #SkullSaturday with the North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis) in honor of World Otter Day! This species is one of multiple in this genus but they only belong to the Americas! In many areas they were wiped out due to the fur trade like the sea otter!

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Hi all, been a minute! But we are back with #MicroscopeMonday 🔬 ft a perivascular cuff in the brain 🧠 of a 🦦!! Perivascular cuffs are a form of encephalitis (brain encephalitis) that can be indicative of viral infections! It is unclear in this case what caused this little cuff in this 🦦!

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Reposted by Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP

VIN Students @vinstudents.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Happy #MicroscopeMonday with a Sarcocyst in the skeletal muscle of a sea otter 🦦🦦! Sarocysts as previously posted is relatively common incidental finding in many wildlife species and if found in the brain of sea otters can cause neurological disease and death or complications from inability to hunt!

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Happy #SkullSunday featuring the carrion crow in honor of Crow and Raven Day that passed this week!! Carrion crow (Corvus corone) live in a similar ecological niche with the Hooded crow in Eurasia and the American crow in the US! This species is larger than their American counterparts! 🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛🐦‍⬛

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Happy #MicoscropeMonday with an 🦅🫀! This is a Mason’s Trichrome stain that highlights collagen in blue! This case has extensive blue coloration consistent with fibrosis (replacement with abundant collagen). This eagle died from lead toxicosis which causes lesions like we see here in the heart!

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Happy #SkullSaturday with the Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) in honor of #worldpenguinday! Magellanic penguins are native to South America and named after Ferdinand Magellan as he made his way around the continent! IUCN lists them as near threatened! 🐧🐧🐧🐧

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Hi all, HAPPY 🌎 DAY!! I’m going to do a bit of a selfish plug asking people to donate to my Chicago Marathon Fundraiser to World Wildlife Fund since what better way to celebrate earth day then helping animals right?

fundraise.worldwildlife.org

Welcome to My Fundraising Page

I am fundraising for World Wildlife Fund by running in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 11, 2026 because nature needs us now more than ever. Deforestation, climate change, water scarci...

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Happy #MicroscopeMonday with a 🐰 liver infected with Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease! RHDV has two virus types of which RHDV2 has spread worldwide through the exchange of pet trade and improperly disinfected equipment. In the name, it causes massive bleeding and tissue death in the 🫁 and liver.

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

Delayed #MicroscopeMonday ft 🐸 👅!! Frog tongues have abundant mucous glands that help create that sticky feature for them to acquire their prey! However some species of frogs don’t have tongues at all which includes Xenopus laevis, the African clawed frogs, and other members of the Pipidae family!

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

Happy #SkullSunday ft the North American Beaver 🦫 (Castor canadensis) in honor of International 🦫 Day passing! Beavers are the largest rodents in NA and nearly wiped out by the fur trade and for land expansion for farming. They are a keystone species critical to habit restoration by their dams!

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

Happy #SkullSaturday ft a domestic ferret skull in honor of National Ferret Day this past week!! Domestic ferrets (Mustela furo) were domesticated from the European polecat (Mustela putorius) about 2500 years ago! Like their wild counterparts, they are excellent rodent 🐀🐁🐿️ and rabbit 🐇 hunters!

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Today is the inaugural Jane Goodall Day since she passed away last fall coinciding with Ape Awareness Month and her birthday! She, the late Diane Fossey and Birute Galdikas, will continue to be inspirations in the world of wildlife conservation through their great ape research. 🦍🦧 #janegoodall

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Happy World Ferret Day!!!! WWF works with helping restore Black-Footed Ferrets here in North America!! Black-footed ferrets used to be extinct in the wild but have made an amazing comeback that you can help with today by donating below!!! fundraise.worldwildlife.org/p2p/site/9XS...

fundraise.worldwildlife.org

Welcome to My Fundraising Page

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Happy #MicroscopeMonday ft a cestode! This cestode was found in the small intestine of a bobcat! There are several species of cestodes aka tapeworms that can infect a wide variety of species and some cestode species like Echinococcus sp can have severe zoonotic disease impacts on humans!

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

In honor of Seal and Sea Lion this past week, happy #SkullSaturday with the California Sea Lion (CSL)! CSL have a total range spanning from Alaska to Mexico with a breeding range isolated to the southern half of California and northern Mexico! This is a female evidenced by lack of sagittal crest!

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Happy #NationalScienceAppreciationDay! Science is all around us and remember to thank those that work in all sectors! Also you can join in citizen science projects to help more involved!! 🔬🧫🦠

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Today’s @ologies.bsky.social episodes is about Megafelinology aka Big Cats!! Remember that @worldwildlife.org does a great deal of work with big cat species like Snow Leopards, Lions, Tigers, Amur Leopards, Cheetahs, etc that you can help! 🐆🐅🦁 Donate to my WWF fundraiser below! #bigcats #wwf

fundraise.worldwildlife.org

Welcome to My Fundraising Page

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Happy #MicroscopeMonday ft Avian Influenza (AI) immunohistochemistry on a bobcat brain 🧠! The darkest brown staining is within neurons highlighting the AI infection in this animal! Mammals like cats and seals with Highly pathogenic AI will have encephalitis and neuronal necrosis causing death.

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Happy #SkullSaturday ft the serval (Leptailurus serval) in honor of World Serval Day this past week. This medium sized cat is native to Sub-Saharan Africa and has in the recent years become popular in the exotic pet trade. It is the only member of its particular genus within the Felidae family. 🐆🐆🐆

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Happy #WorldParasiteAwarenessDay🪱 ft Phylasoptera species (presumed) from a bobcat stomach!

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Remember that you can help pandas today on #NationalPandaDay by donating to my WWF fundraiser in my pinned post! 🐼🐼🐼

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Happy #MicroscopeMonday with 🧠 and 🫁 from a bobcat! This bobcat was diagnosed with highly pathogenic avian influenza: 🧠 has lymphohistiocytic encephalitis with neuronal necrosis and 🫁 has interstitial pneumonia with alveolar edema and a thrombus in that vessel in the middle. Classic HPAI in a Felid!

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

Happy #SkullSunday instead of Saturday as the day got ahead of me with the warthog aka genus Phacochoerus! Most well known is the desert warthog is what many associate with Pumba from Disney’s The Lion King! You can see the impressive tusks that are actually canine teeth most prominent in males! 🐗

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Highly recommend my fellow nerds especially scientists to do a Nerd Nite event in your area!! Make it entertaining and help people learn something new! I find it is important for scientists to talk about their work or something interesting outside our collleagues!! #sciencecommunication

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

Happy #MicroscopeMonday ft a bat wing with Pseudogymnoascus destructans aka the fungal agent that causes White Nose Syndrome. This fungal agent has wiped out large colonies of bats within North America in the last twenty years. It was introduced from Europe by spelunkers in the early 2000s. 🦇🦇🦇🦇

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Reposted by Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP

American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) @avmavets.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

It's #InternationalWomensDay! Join us in celebrating the trailblazing women of veterinary medicine!

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

It’s #SkullSaturday ft the American Black Bear (Ursus americanus)! Present through majority of North America, they can actually be found in a variety of shades despite their name! While known to hibernate, bears located in warmer climates do not always! They are the smallest bear species in NA!

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Natalie Sylvia Tocco, DVM, MS, DACVP @deadpetvet.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Happy World Wildlife Day!! 🦇🦫🦉🐢🦝🦦🦅🐺🐦‍⬛🦊🦆🪿 Want to help the future of wildlife? Remember to donate to my @worldwildlife.org fundraiser as I will be representing them at Chicago Marathon!! Link below! fundraise.worldwildlife.org/p2p/site/9XS...

fundraise.worldwildlife.org

Welcome to My Fundraising Page

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