n. Any of various slender, spiral, motile bacteria of the order Spirochaetales, many of which are pathogenic, causing syphilis, relapsing fever, yaws, and other diseases. [New Latin Spīrochaeta, genus name : Latin spīra, coil; see SPIRE2 + New Latin chaeta, bristle, hair; see CHAETA.] spi′ro·chetal (-kētl) adj. |
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