INTRAHEPATIC LARVAL NEMATODE INFECTION IN THE NORTHERN SPRING PEEPER,PSEUDACRIS CRUCIFER CRUCIFER (ANURA, HYLIDAE), IN WEST-VIRGINIA

Larval stages of an unknown nematode were observed encapsulated in the livers of spring peepers, Pseudacris crucifer crucifer (Weid-Neuweid) , collected from a marsh in western West Virginia (USA) during the spr ing breeding seasons of 1993 and 1994. Prevalence and mean intensity o f infection were 37% (30 of 82 animals) and 2.03 parasites per infecte d host, respectively Capsules with white or darkly pigmented walls wer e observed in infested livers; the former containing viable larvae, an d the latter enveloping larvae in various stages of degeneration.