There has been a resurgence of interest in bacterial taxonomy
partially because of the current focus on biodiversity
and the development of reliable molecular methods
, notably 16S rRNA sequencing. Undoubtedly, these
molecular approaches have led to greater confidence andaccuracy in the reporting of bacterial names. Nevertheless,
it is conceded that bacterial taxonomy is a specialist
subject, which is not of interest to all fish pathologists.
However, it cannot be overstated that there is a real value
for good taxonomy as a means of communication. In
terms of fish pathology, taxonomy enables the recognition
of new pathogens, improvements in the understanding
of relationships between taxa, an appreciation of
variation within existing nomenspecies including the
recognition of new subspecies and biogroups, and facilitates
accurate commentary about all aspects of biology
from epizootiology to pathogenicity, although
the position of so-called atypical isolates in taxonomic
hierarchies is often difficult to determine