Aeromonas culicicola Pidiyar et al. 2002 is a later subjective synonym of Aeromonas veronii Hickman-Brenner et al. 1987

We re-investigated the taxonomic affiliation between Aeromonas culicicola Pidiyar et al. 2002 and Aeromonas veronii Hickman-Brenner et al. 1987, two species that have previously been shown to be closely related on the basis of gyrB and rpoD gene sequencing and amplified fragment length polymorphism fingerprinting. From extended biochemical characterization and fatty acid analysis, it was concluded that A. culicicola did not constitute a unique phenotypic group in the genus Aeromonas but instead clearly fitted the phenotypic description of A. veronii blovar (bv.) sobria. Concordant with the phenotypic results, new DNA-DNA hybridizations revealed reassociation values in the range of 79-88 % between the type strains of A. culicicola and A. veronii which indicates that both taxa belong to the same DNA hybridization group. Together with previously reported evidence, we conclude from the new taxonomic data that A. culicicola is a typical member of A. veronii bv. sobria and that its status as a new Aeromonas species is not justified. On the basis of nomenclatural priority, it is therefore proposed that A. culicicola Pidiyar et al. 2002 should be considered as a later subjective synonym of A. veronii Hickman-Brenner et al. 1987. (c) 2005 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.