Thomas J. Nolan
Adjunct Associate Professor of Parasitology, Dept of Pathobiology

Microbiology, Virology and Parasitology Program

Address

4034 Ryan Veterinary Hospital
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6050

Office tel.: 215-898-7895
Fax: 215-573-7023
E-mail: parasit@vet.upenn.edu


Education

Lehigh University: BS (Biology), 1975.

Seton Hall University: MS (Biology), 1978.

Rutgers University: PhD (Zoology/Parasitology), 1983.

Research Interests

• Epidemiology of parasites of companion small animals; Strongyloides stercoralis: Host modification of developmental decisions.

Key words: Strongyloides stercoralis, parasite behavior, canine and feline parasites.

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Description of Research

My major area of research centers on the control of autoinfection in infections with the nematode Strongyloides stercoralis, a parasite of dogs and man. To this end, in collaboration with Dr. Gerry Schad, we have developed the gerbil as a model for this infection. The gerbil is the only rodent in which all aspects of the parasite's life cycle, including autoinfection, have been shown to take place. In the gerbil model we have shown that autoinfection will take place under certain immunosuppressive conditions (inhibitors of T-cell IL 2 regulation, i.e. treatment with tacrolimus, or general immunosuppression, i.e. steroid treatment). Autoinfection has also been observed in immunologically naive gerbils (i.e., neonatally infected gerbils or gerbils infected per os with adult worms). Th 1 inducing infections (i.e. Toxoplasma gondii) and a large initial infection can also induce subsequent autoinfection. We are currently looking at the role of the amphidial neurons in developmental decisions made by the larval worms.

I am also interested in the epidemiology of parasitic infections in dogs and cats. As director of the clinical parasitology laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, I am constantly monitoring the trends in parasite prevalence in the animals that pass through our facility.

Recent Publications

T. J. Nolan, M. Brenes, F. T. Ashton, X. Zhu, W. M. Forbes, R. Boston and G. A. Schad. (2004) The amphidial neuron pair ALD controls the temperature sensitive choice of alternative developmental pathways in the parasitic nematode, Strongyloides stercoralis. Parasitology 129(6):753-759.

Thomas J. Nolan, Veena M. Bhopale, Harris L. Rotman, David Abraham, and Gerhard A. Schad. 2002. Strongyloides stercoralis: High worm population density leads to autoinfection in the jird (Meriones unguiculatus). Experimental Parasitology 100:173-178.

Laura A. Kerepesi, Thomas J. Nolan, Gerhard A. Schad, Sara Lustigman, DeBroski R. Herbert, Paul B. Keiser, Thomas B. Nutman, Alejandro J. Krolewiecki, and David Abraham. (2004) Human Immunoglobulin G Mediates Protective Immunity and Identifies Protective Antigens against Larval Strongyloides stercoralis in Mice. Journal of Infectious Diseases 189:1282-1290.

Sean D. Owens, Donna A. Oakley, Kym Maryott, Wendy Hatchett, Requel Walton, Tom J. Nolan, Alisa Newton, Frank Steurer, Peter Schnatz, Urs Giger. (2001) Transmission of visceral leishmaniasis through blood transfusions from infected English foxhounds to anemic dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 219:1076-1083.

V. Hoffman, T. J. Nolan, and R. Schoelkopf. (2004) First Report of the Giant Kidney Worm (Dioctophyme renale) in a Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina). Journal of Parasitology 90(3):659-660.

Lab

Lab personnel:

Richard Marcantuno, MT Diagnostic Parasitology Technician