sordellii

Sordellii is a Latin-derived species epithet used in the scientific names of several organisms. In biological nomenclature, the suffix -ii is a patronym, often indicating the species was named in honor of a person with the surname Sordell (or a related name such as Sordellius). The exact honoree may vary by taxon and original describer, and in some cases the origin is not definitively documented.

The best-known use of sordellii is in Clostridium sordellii, a Gram-positive, anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium. Clostridium sordellii occurs in soil and in the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and animals and has been associated with serious infections in humans, including soft tissue infections and toxic shock syndromes, particularly after childbirth or abortion. Clinical management requires prompt recognition, appropriate antimicrobial therapy, and supportive care, given the toxin-mediated nature of the associated illness. The bacterium is typically identified by culture and molecular methods.

Beyond Clostridium sordellii, the epithet appears in other species across different groups, reflecting the historical practice of honoring individuals in taxonomy. The epithet alone does not convey specific biological or ecological information about the organism; it serves as a taxonomic label within its genus. As with many Latin epithets, sordellii functions to distinguish a species in its respective lineage rather than to describe its characteristics.