Titles and Education

1. Clinical Assistant Professor, Anatomic Pathology Anatomic Pathology Residency Training Director Zoo & Wildlife Pathology Coordinator

2. 2015-2019, Chief of Exotic Companion Animal, Zoo Animal, and Wildlife Pathology, Animal Reference Pathology, LLC

3. 2015-2019 Chief of Diagnostic Pathology, Pacific Zoo & Wildlife Diagnostics, Veterinary Corporation

4. 2017-2019, Associate Pathologist, Zoo/Exotics Pathology Service

5. 2015, PhD, Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison

6. 2011, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Pathologists

7. 2010-2011, Steele Endowed Anatomic Pathology Resident, Wildlife Disease Laboratories, San Diego Zoo

8. 2008-2010, Anatomic Pathology Resident, Zoo & Wildlife Emphasis, University of California-Davis

9. 2007, DVM, Kansas State University

10. 2003, BS, Veterinary Science, University of Arizona

11. 1996, BA, Psychology (Experimental), University of Alabama in Huntsville

Responsibilities

• Diagnostic Anatomic Pathology
  • UW-Veterinary Medical Center Coordinator for Biopsy and Necropsy Services 
  • UW-Veterinary Medical Center Zoo and Wildlife Pathology Coordinator
  • Maintain a send-in zoo & wildlife biopsy/necropsy service for animals that are not clients of the UW-VMC
• Clinical Training
  • Director of the Anatomic Pathology Residency Training Program
  • Didactic and Clinical Training of Anatomic Pathology Residents (Currently 2 first-year, 1 second-year, 1 third-year residents)
  • Post-residency training and support of Anatomic Pathology Clinical Instructor (Currently 2 instructors) 
  • Anatomic Pathology Externship/Rotation Training of Residents in Shelter Medicine, Large and Small Animal Surgery and Medicine, Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Dermatology, Clinical Pathology
• Teaching
  • Veterinary Systemic Pathology II (Path-Bio561), course coordinator 2nd year veterinary curriculum
  • Veterinary Necropsy Clinical Rotation (Path-Bio660), course coordinator - 4th year veterinary curriculum
• Committees
  • UWVC Clinical Ethics Committee Member, Fall 2021 - Current
  • Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee - Summer 2024 - Current
  • Pathology Innovative Improvement Committee Member, Fall 2021 - Spring 2023
  • Faculty Search Committee - Anatomic Pathology Clinical Track Faculty 2023
  • Faculty Search Committee - Anatomic Pathology Clinical Track Faculty 2022

Clinical Interests

I am a veterinary educator formally trained in veterinary anatomic pathology and molecular immunology, with emphasis and specialized training in understanding and investigating diseases in zoo, exotic, and wild animals. My clinical interests include disease investigations in animal collections and wildlife, zoonotic and emerging diseases associated with the pet adn wildlife trade. I also have a very strong interest in clinical education and public outreach, and I am actively engaged in training veterinary students in their 2nd and 4th years, interns, and residents in anatomic pathology, clinical pathology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, internal medicine, and surgery.  I am currently working to establish Center of Excellence for Exotic, Zoo, and Wild Animal Health here at the Universtiy of Wisconsin-Madison.

My research interests focus on spontaneous diseases of zoo and wild animals, immunology of and host responses to infectious respiratory diseases, and animal models of human respiratory disease including COVID-19, influenza, tuberculosis, and filoviruses. 

Learn more about my work with the Milwaukee County Zoo here: 

What happens when zoo animals die?

Interested in an anatomic pathology residency?

Wisconsin Veterinary Anatomic Pathology Residency Training Program 

Graduate Training

2011-2015 Suresh Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Comparative Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison

PhD Thesis: Cell-Mediated Antiviral Immunity and Host Responses to CD8 T-cell Vaccines and Respiratory Virus Infection

Recent Publications

1. Textbooks
2. Textbook Chapter 5: Bovidae, Antilocapridae, Giraffidae, Tragulidae, and Hippopotamidae. Jones MEB, Gasper DJ, Mitchell E. In Pathology of Wildlife and Zoo Animals, Terio KA, McAloose D, and St. Ledger J, eds. 2018.
3. Textbook Chapter 8: Suidae and Tayassuidae. Jimenez Martinez MA, Gasper DJ, Carmona Mucino MDC,and Terio KA. In Pathology of Wildlife and Zoo Animals, Terio KA, McAloose D, and St. Ledger J, eds. 2018.
4. Zoo, Wildlife, & VeterinaryPathology Publications
5. Variations in the morphology of lagomorph confluence sinuum on contrast enhanced CT. Jorge K, Tolliver S, Gasper D, Mans C, Yap SW. Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 2023 Jul;64(4):640-645. doi: 10.1111/vru.13243. Epub 2023 May 3. PMID: 37133973.
6. Equine neuroaxonal dystrophy/degenerative myeloencephalopathy in Gypsy Vanner horses. Powers A, Peek SF, Reed S, Donnelly CG, Tinkler S, Gasper D, Woolard KD, Finno CJ.J Vet Intern Med. 2024 Apr 13. doi: 10.1111/jvim.17062. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38613444.
7. Clinical, pathologic, and immunohistochemical features of pituitary tumors in 4 chinchillas. Lee LM, Gasper D, Szabo Z, Tse M, Hawkins S, Steinberg H, Kiupel M. Vet Pathol. 2023 May;60(3):320-323. doi: 10.1177/03009858231158077. Epub 2023 Mar 4. PMID: 36869824.
8. Severe Pulmonary Hypertension and Pulmonary Thrombi in a Dog. Kellihan HB, Cutchin E, Sirochman A, Gasper D. CASE (Phila). 2023 Dec 18;8(3Part B):273-278. doi: 10.1016/j.case.2023.11.003. PMID: 38524883; PMCID: PMC10959734.
9. Diagnosis of Seminoma With Metastasis to the Brain and Kidneys in a Moluccan Eclectus (Eclectus roratus) Using Advanced Contrast Based Imaging. Kirk N, Echols MS, Reavill D, Gasper D, Wilcox C. J Avian Med Surg. 2022 Nov;36(3):325-332. doi: 10.1647/21-00024. PMID: 36468811.
10. Antemortem diagnosis of Nannizziopsis guarroi fungal pneumonia in a green iguana (Iguana iguana). Tournade CM, Doss GA, Adamovicz LA, Ambar N, Allender MC,  Lennox AM, Gasper DJ, Mans C. Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine, Volume 38, 2021, Pages 44-47.
11. Peripheral neuropathy secondary to a neuroma in an Eastern screech owl (Megascops asio). Gill KS, Helmer PJ, Gasper DJ. Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine (2019) 3153-56.
12. Acute toxicity of gossypol in northern bobwhites. Journal of Applied Animal Research.  Farthing AL, Schwertner T, Gasper DJ, Mathewson HA, and Guay KA. (2019).  47. 326-332.

13. Protozoal infections of the cornea and conjunctiva in dogs associated with chronic ocular surface disease and topical immunosuppression. Beckwith-Cohen B, Gasper DJ, Bentley E, Gittleman H, Ellis A, Snowden, K, Shock B, Yabsley M, Dubielzig RR. Veterinary Ophthalmology. 2015 Jun 3. doi: 10.1111/vop.12285.

14. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitor associated keratitis in six dogs following topical glaucoma treatment. Beckwith-Cohen B, Bentley E, Gasper DJ, McLellan GJ, Dubielzig RR. Journal of the American Veterinary Association. 2015 Dec 15;247(12):1419-26.

15. Ibex-associated malignant catarrhal fever-like disease in a group of bongo antelope (Tragelaphus eurycerus). Gasper D, Barr B, Li H, Taus N, Peterson R, Benjamin G, Hunt T, Pesavento PA. Vet Pathol. 2012 May; 49(3):492-7. Epub 2011 Dec 21.

16. Nonossifying fibroma in the mandible of a goat. Murphy B, Gasper D, Pool R. Vet Pathol. 2011 Nov;48(6):1161-4

18. Immunology & Pathobiology Publications
19. REVIEW The Generation and Maintenance of CD4 T-cell Memory. Gasper DJ, Tejera MM, Suresh M. Crit Rev Imm. 2014 34(2): 121-146.
20. Programming Multifaceted Pulmonary T Cell Immunity by Combination Adjuvants. Marinaik CB, Kingstad-Bakke B, Lee W, Hatta M, Sonsalla M, Larsen A, Neldner B, Gasper DJ, Kedl RM, Kawaoka Y, Suresh M.  Cell Rep Med. 2020 Sep 22;1(6):100095. doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2020.100095. PMID: 32984856; PMCID: PMC7508055.

21. C57BL/6J and C57BL/6NJ Mice are Differentially Susceptible to Inflammation-associated Disease Caused by Influenza A Virus. Eisfeld AJ, Gasper DJ, Suresh M, Kawaoka Y. Frontiers in Microbiology. 2019 Jan 17;9:3307.

22. Effective Respiratory CD8 T-Cell Immunity to Influenza Virus Induced by Intranasal Carbomer-Lecithin-Adjuvanted Non-replicating Vaccines. Gasper DJ, Neldner B, Plisch EH, Rustom H, Carrow E, Imai H, Kawaoka Y, Suresh M. PLoS Pathogens. 2016, Dec. 12(12).

23. Immunogenicity of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole in a macaque model of HIV infection. Wong YY, Rakasz EG, Gasper DJ, Friedrich TC, Trepanier LA. Toxicology. 2016 Aug. 368-369:10-18.

24. Integrated Omics Analysis of Pathogenic Host Responses during Pandemic H1N1 Influenza Virus Infection: The Crucial Role of Lipid Metabolism. Go JT & Gasper DJ (co-first authors), Josset L, Kyle J, Eisfeld AJ, Selinger C, Hatta M, Weitz KK, Tilton SC, Webb-Robertson B-J, Waters KM, Metz TO, Smith RD, Kawaoka Y, and Katze MG. Cell Host & Microbe. 2016. Feb 10. 19, 1-13.
25. The draft genome sequence of the ferret (Mustela putorius furo) facilitates study of human respiratory disease. Peng X, Alföldi J, Gori K, Eisfeld AJ, Tyler SR, Tisoncik-Go J, Brawand D, Law GL, Skunca N, Hatta M, Gasper DJ, Kelly SM, Chang J, Thomas MJ, Johnson J, Berlin AM, Lara M, Russell P, Swofford R, Turner-Maier J, Young S, Hourlier T, Aken B, Searle S, Sun X, Yi Y, Suresh M, Tumpey TM, Siepel A, Wisely SM, Dessimoz C, Kawaoka Y, Birren BW, LindbladToh K, Di Palma F, Engelhardt JF, Palermo RE, Katze MG. Nature Biotechnol. 2014 Dec;32(12):1250-5.

26. Bach2 Regulates Homeostasis of Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cells and Protects against Fatal Lung Disease in Mice. Kim EH, Gasper DJ, Lee SH, Plisch EA, Svaren J, Suresh M. J Immunol 192, no. 3 (2014): 985-95.

27. Complement component 3C3 and C3a receptor are required in chitin-dependent allergic sensitization to Aspergillus fumigatus but dispensable in chitin-induced innate allergic inflammation. Roy RM, Paes HC, Nanjappa SG, Sorkness R, Gasper D, Sterkel A, Wüthrich M, Klein BS. M Bio. 2013 Apr 2;4(2).

28. Tc17 Cells Mediate Vaccine Immunity against Lethal Fungal Pneumonia in Immune Deficient Hosts Lacking CD4+ T Cells. Nanjappa SG, Heninger E, Wüthrich M, Gasper DJ, Klein BS (2012) PLoS Pathog 8(7): e1002771.