Billbraya is a genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 of parasitic protozoa

Protozoa

Protozoa are a diverse group of single-cells eukaryotic organisms, many of which are motile. Throughout history, protozoa have been defined as single-cell protists with animal-like behavior, e.g., movement...

. The genus lies within the phylum

Phylum

In biology, a phylum The term was coined by Georges Cuvier from Greek φῦλον phylon, "race, stock," related to φυλή phyle, "tribe, clan." is a taxonomic rank below kingdom and above class. "Phylum" is equivalent to the botanical term division....

 Apicomplexia.

There is one recognised species in this genus: Billbraya australis.

Description

This genus was described in 1990 by Paperna and Landau. The genus is named after the parasiologist Robert ("Bill") Bray.

While merogony mostly occurs in the erythrocytes (typically 2 parasites per cell and up to 95% infection rates) it may also occur in the monocyte

Monocyte

Monocytes are a type of white blood cell and are part of the innate immune system of vertebrates including all mammals , birds, reptiles, and fish. Monocytes play multiple roles in immune function...

s.

Gametocyte

Gametocyte

A gametocyte is a eukaryotic germ cell that divides by mitosis into other gametocytes or by meiosis into gametids during gametogenesis. Male gametocytes are called spermatocytes, and female gametocytes are called oocytes....

s occur in the erythrocytes and may persist for months.

Host range

The only known host for this species is the marbled gekko (Phyllodactylus marmoratus)