On the synonymy of Mycobacterium marianum Penso 1952 and Mycobacterium scrofulaceum Prissick and Masson 1956 and the resolution of a nomenclatural problem

Abstract

Mycobacterium marianum Penso 1953 and Mycobacterium scrofulaceum Prissick and Masson 1956 are regarded as subjective synonyms on the basis of comparative studies of the original descriptions and of authentic strains of each of the organisms. (Subjective synonyms are names based on different nomenclatural types, which types are regarded as similar enough to belong to the same taxon (species in this case).) Mycobacterium marianum, being the older of the two names, would appear to be the correct name for the species formed by the union of the two species. However the specific epithet in the name M. marianum, although etymologically distinct from the specific epithet in the name Mycobacterium marinum Aronson 1926, is so similar orthographically to the earlier specific epithet marinum that it causes confusion. Therefore these epithets are to be regarded as orthographic variants of the same epithet, and the corresponding species names are to be treated as homonyms. M. marianum is therefore illegitimate as a later homonym of M. marinum and must be rejected even if the earlier homonym is illegitimate or is treated as a synonym on taxonomic grounds. On the basis, then, that M. marianum and M. scrofulaceum are subjective synonyms, the correct name for the species is M. scrofula ceum Prissick and Masson, of which M. marianum is an unavailable, illegitimate synonym. Prissick and Masson’s strain 1356 (ATCC 19981) is herein designated as the type strain of Mycobacterium scrofulaceum Prissick and Masson.