Explore the taxonomy of Spirochaetales, including major genera such as Treponema, Borrelia, and Leptospira.
Gain a clear understanding of their distinctive spiral shape, flagella structure, and unique cell wall composition.
Spirochaetales: Genera - Treponema, Leptospira, Borrelia
Four clinically important genera:
- Treponema
- Borrelia
- Leptospira
- Brachyspira
Characteristics of spirochetes:
• Spirochete is a gram negative organism
• Endoflagella (can swim in highly viscous media e.g. connective tissue)
• Differing numbers of endoflagella according to genus & species
• Treponema have not yet been culture in artificial media (rabbit testes)
• Borrelia have been grown on complex media
General shapes of Spirochaetales:
Treponema Species:
Name derives from Greek nous trypanon meaning borer.
Treponema pallidum is the microaerophilic spirochete responsible for syphilis.
In patients with acquired venereal syphilis, there is an initial genital tract lesion (primary stage)
followed by disseminated lesions (secondary stage) and, in approximately one-third of untreated
individuals, cardiovascular and neurologic problems (tertiary stage).
Cranial Trepanation: For a large part of human prehistory, people around the world practised
trepanation: a crude surgical procedure that involves forming a hole in the skull of a living person by
either drilling, cutting or scraping away layers of bone with a sharp implement. This surgical method
was used to treat mental health illness such as dementia and depression.
Pyromania and 'fighting fire with fire':
In the early 1900s, Wagner von Jauregg treated syphilis patients with malaria (winning the Noble
Prize). The patients developed malaria, causing a severe fever and killed the syphilis bacteria. Then
given the malaria drug quinine and cured. This was used until the development of penicillin.
Treponema Pallidum species
One SPECIES different diseases and epidemiology. Non-sexually transmitted disease of the skin and
flesh.
Yaws: Treponema pallidium sub-species pertenue in Africa, Asia and Western Pacific.
Yaws is a tropical infection of the skin, bones and joints caused by the spirochete bacterium
Treponema pallidum pertenue. The disease is commonly found in children. There are stages of the
disease that are associated with syphilis such as primary stage, secondary and tertiary.
Pinta: Treponema pallidum sub-species carateum in Mexico and Central and South America.
Limited to the skin. Pinta is a rare infectious tropical disease affecting the skin that is caused by the
bacterium Treponema carateum, which is transmitted by direct, nonsexual contact. Pinta
progresses through three distinct stages, which are characterised by various skin lesions and
discoloration.
Spirochetes Page 1
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