The name Rhabdochlamydia is derived as follows: "Rha.bdo.chla.my’di.a; Gr. fem. n. rhabdos the stick, rod; M. L. fem. n. Chlamydia taxonomic name of a bacterial genus; M. L. fem. n. Rhabdochlamydia rod-shaped Chlamydia, referring to the rod-like shape of the elementary bodies; por.ce.lli.o’.nis; N. L. gen. n. of Porcellio, taxonomic name of a terrestrial isopod genus; pertaining to the genus name of the host organism" [Kostanjsek et al., 2004].
Interestingly some of the CRG clones of Ossewaarde and Meijer from uveitis patients form a clade with Rhabdochlamydia [Corsaro et al., 2003]. Studies of the 'chlamydia-like' organisms should lead to improved understanding of the pathobiology and evolution of the Chlamydiales.