The spirochetes are elongated , rigid , flexible organism
twisted spirally around their long axis . They are motile though they do not
possess flagella or cilia or pseudopodia . they have no definite nucleus . They
divided by binary fission .
Classification
I Spirochetes which
are not found in man and animal . They are …….
i)
Spirochaeta group – they are free living members with
an axial fibre and an unsegmented protoplasm .
ii)
Cristispira group – They are free living members with a
band like membrane or crista which runs spirally along the entire length of the
body . The body is divided by transverse septa .
iii)
Saprospira -
They are free living members without crista or axial filament . The
spiral protoplasmis body is divided by transverse septa .
II . spirochetes which are found in man and an animal …
A. Treponema
group
1..
pathogenic
a) Treponema
pallidum ( causative organism of syphilis ) .
b) Treponema
pertenue ( causative organism of Yaws )
c) Treponema
carateume ( causative organism of Pinta ) .
B.. Borrella
group –
a) Borrella
recurrentis ( causative organism of relapsing fever )
b) Borrella
carteri ( Indian disease )
c) Borrella
duttoni ( African disease )
d) Borrella
novyi ( American disease )
e) Borrella
vincenti ( causative organism of Vincent’s Angina )
C.. Leptospira
group
a) Leptospira
icterohaemorrhagiae ( causative organism of weil’s disease 0
b) Leptospira
canicola
c) Leptospira
grippo-typhosa ( Pathogens of rodens )
d) Leptospira
hebdomadis ( causes seven days fever of the east )
e) Leptospira
biflexa ( Saprophytic in stagnant water ) .
