Spirochaeta

Spirochaeta

(spī'rō-kē'tă),

A genus of motile bacteria (order Spirochaetales) containing presumably gram-negative, flexible, undulating, spiral-shaped rods that may or may not possess flagelliform, tapering ends. The protoplast is spirally wound around an axial filament. No obvious periplast membrane or cross-striations occur. These organisms are motile by means of a creeping motion over the surfaces of supporting objects. They are not parasitic but are found free living in fresh or sea water slime; they are commonly found in sewage and foul water. At present the genus contains five species. The type species is Spirochaeta plicatilis.

[Mod. L. fr. G. speira, a coil, + chaitē, hair]

Spirochaeta

/Spi·ro·chae·ta/ (spi″ro-ke´tah) a genus of bacteria (family Spirochaetaceae), found in slime of fresh and salt water; most species formerly assigned to this genus have been assigned to other genera.

Spirochaeta

(spī″rō-kē′tă) [Gr. speira, coil, + chaite, hair]

A genus of slender, spiral, motile bacteria of the family Spirochaetaceae. The species are saprophytes in water and soil.

Spirochaeta icterohaemorrhagiae

An obsolete name for Leptospira interrogans, the bacterium that causes leptospirosis.

Spirochaeta pallida

An obsolete name for Treponema pallidum, the bacteria that causes syphilis.

Spirochaeta

a genus of the family Spirochaetaceae of bacteria. Gram-negative, coiled bacteria, facultative or obligate anaerobes.

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Spirochaeta anserina

now called Borrelia anserina; causes fowl spirochetosis.

Spirochaeta penortha

of uncertain taxonomic status; described as a cofactor in ovine footrot.