What is "hepatocystis"

Hepatocystis is a genus of parasitic protozoa transmitted by midges of the Culicoides genus. Hosts include Old World primates, bats, hippopotamus and squirrels. This genus is not found in the New World. The genus was erected by Levaditi and Schoen, 1932, as Hepatocystes.

The type species is Hepatocystis kochi. There are currently 25 recognised species in this genus.