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Medical Definition of Hepatocystis
1. A genus of blood-parasitizing haemosporines (family Plasmodiidae) with gametocytes in red cells and cystlike exoerythrocytic schizonts in the liver parenchyma; parasitic in Old World primates, bats, and squirrels, but not in domestic animals or in the western hemisphere. The species Hepatocystis kochi, a common parasite of African baboons and other monkeys, is transmitted by the biting midge, Culicoides. Origin: hepato-+ G. Kystis, bladder (05 Mar 2000)