TABLE 1.

The taxonomy and pathogenicity of spirochetes

Spirochaetaceae	Morphology	Length (μm)	Type species	Diseases	Pathogens	Medium
Cristispira	Ridged spiral	30–180	Cristispira pectinis	No	‐‐‐‐‐	Mud, sewage
Spirochaeta	Curved spiral	5–250	Spirochaeta plicatilis	No	‐‐‐‐‐	Mollusk shell
Treponema	Tight spiral	1–20	Treponema pallidum	Syphilis	Treponema pallidum	Genital
				Periodontal disease	Treponema denticola	Oral cavity
				Yaws	Treponema pertenue	Mucous membrane
				Pinta	Treponema carateum	Mucous membrane
Borrelia	Sparsely wavy	10–35	Borrelia anserina	Relapsing fever	Borrelia recurrentis	Ixodes
				Lyme disease	Borrelia burgdorferi	Body louse
Leptospira	Hooked spiral	6–12	Leptospira interrogans	Leptospirosis	Leptospira interrogans	Rodents, mammals