bovis

Bovis is a Latin term meaning "of the cow" used in biological nomenclature as a species epithet to indicate bovine origin or association. It is not a taxon by itself but a descriptor that recurs across diverse groups, from bacteria to parasites.

In microbiology the epithet is best known from the Streptococcus bovis group. Historically, strains designated Streptococcus bovis were described as human pathogens associated with endocarditis and bacteremia and were linked to colorectal neoplasia in screening studies. Taxonomic revision has since split many of these strains into several species, most notably Streptococcus gallolyticus, with other related species forming what is known as the S. bovis group. The nomenclature reflects origin or habitat rather than implying a single taxon.

In parasitology and protozoology, the epithet occurs in species such as Eimeria bovis, a coccidian parasite of cattle, illustrating the same convention in non-bacterial lineages.

Beyond bacteria and parasites, bovis also appears in other bovine-associated organisms in taxonomy, serving as an indicator of cattle origin.

See also: bos (the cattle genus), Latin in biological nomenclature, Streptococcus bovis group.