This study demonstrates that three bacterial species—Clostridium barati, Clostridium perenne, and Clostridium paraperfringens—are synonyms representing the same organism. Researchers compared type strains of these three species using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and found identical protein patterns. Morphological and biochemical reactions of multiple strains were also essentially similar. The authors also reviewed historical descriptions and found discrepancies between original characterizations and actual strain properties, explaining these differences through contamination, methodological limitations, and Prévot's incorporation of characteristics from earlier work by other researchers. Based on International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria rules regarding priority, the specific epithet "barati" from Prévot's 1938 description takes precedence over "perenne" (1940) and "paraperfringens" (1970). The authors propose that C. perenne and C. paraperfringens be rejected as later subjective synonyms, with the correct species name being Clostridium barati, with type strain ATCC 27638.

Key findings

• Identical electrophoretic protein patterns and biochemical reactions confirmed that C. barati, C. perenne, and C. paraperfringens are the same species.
• DNA-DNA homology data from Nakamura et al. and protein electrophoresis results correlated, supporting the synonymy proposal.
• Historical discrepancies in original descriptions (mannitol fermentation, lipolytic activity) resulted from contamination, methodological errors, and incorporation of characteristics from Tissier's earlier work.
• According to bacteriological nomenclature rules, the specific epithet "barati" from Prévot 1938 has priority over later epithets, making C. barati the correct name.
• C. perenne and C. paraperfringens are designated as later subjective synonyms of C. barati.