Mycobacterium avium Chester

The first scientific name applied to the agent of avian tuberculosis was Bacillus tuberculosis gallinarum Sternberg. This name was validly published, and it is legitimate. The specific epithet conveys a single idea even though it consists of two words; these should be hyphenated and regarded as a single specific epithet. However, the name that has been used for this organism for decades is Mycobacterium avium, a name ordinarily attributed to Chester. Although there is some question concerning the validity of publication of the name Mycobacterium avium Chester and even though the specific epithet is illegitimate, the Judicial Commission of the International Committee on Systematic Bacteriology is asked to conserve this name in the interest of stability in nomenclature.