[A proposal for Salmonella nomenclature]

Abstract

A single species, composed of six subspecies, was found in the genus Salmonella following a numerical taxonomy and a study of the DNA relatedness (see p. 223, Le Minor et al.). The Salmonella nomenclature is herein updated to take into account modern taxonomic knowledge. The single Salmonella species is S. choleraesuis (type species). Six subspecies are proposed: (1) S. choleraesuis subsp. choleraesuis subsp. nov. is composed of all Salmonella strains formerly assigned to the subgenus I; (2) S. choleraesuis subsp. salamae subsp. nov. corresponds to the former subgenus II; (3) S. choleraesuis subsp. arizonae comb. nov. is composed of monophasic serovars of the former subgenus III ("Arizona"); (4) S. choleraesuis subsp. diarizonae subsp. nov. is composed of diphasic serovars of the former subgenus III ("Arizona"); (5) S. choleraesuis subsp. houtenae subsp. nov. corresponds to the former subgenus IV; and (6) S. choleraesuis subsp. bongori subsp. nov. is composed of strains positive for dulcitol fermentation, ONPG, and KCN tests. Type strains are proposed for each subspecies. The name of S. choleraesuis subsp. choleraesuis serotypes (e.g. typhimurium) should be used without italicization or underlining (e.g. S. choleraeusis subsp. choleraesuis ser. typhimurium). A practical and unofficial use of non-italicized serotype names is discussed.