Spirochaetes

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 ) .