COSMOCERCOIDES-VARIABILIS (NEMATODA, COSMOCERCOIDEA) POPULATIONS IN THE EASTERN AMERICAN TOAD, BUFO-AMERICANUS-AMERICANUS (SALIENTA, BUFONIDAE), FROM WESTERN WEST-VIRGINIA

Cosmocercoides variabilis was recovered from the small and large intes tines of Bufo a. americanus in western West Virginia. Toads were colle cted from 2 different sites during the April breeding seasons of 1994 and 1995 (Cabell Co.) and 1993 and 1995 (Wayne Co.). Prevalence was 10 0% in both host sexes from Cabell Co. (25 of 25 females; 48 of 48 male s). Prevalences in Wayne Co. toads were 87.5% for females (14 of 16) a nd 57.1% for males (28 of 49). A total of 3,114 C. variabilis were col lected: 2,878 from 73 Cabell Co. hosts and 236 from 42 Wayne Co. hosts . The 3,114 nematodes were distributed as 1,852 females, 1,196 males, and 66 juveniles. Specific mean intensities, and numbers and sex of ne matodes collected by host sex and collection site, are reported.