Summary
The natural relationships among free-living and host-associated spirochetes were studied by investigating aspects of their morphology, physiology and DNA base composition. These studies indicated that the strictly and facultatively anaerobic, free-living spirochetes share characteristics which distinguish them from their host-associated counterparts and from the free-living leptospires.
It is suggested that the strictly and facultatively anaerobic, free-living spirochetes be grouped in the genus Spirochaeta and that this genus include the following four species: S. plicatilis (type species), S. stenostrepta, S. zwelzerae (Treponema zuelzerae), and S. aurantia. The characteristics of these species are described.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baseman, J. B., R. C. Henneberry, and C. D. Cox: Isolation and growth of Leptospira on artificial media. J. Bact. 91, 1374–1375 (1966).
Bessemans, A., and E. Van Thielen: Nouvelles données sur la pallidoïdose. Biométrie comparée du tréponème. C. R. Soc. biol. (Paris) 126, 261–264 (1937).
Bladen, H. A., and E. G. Hampp: Ultrastructure of Treponema microdentium and Borrelia vincentii. J. Bact. 87, 1180–1191 (1964).
Breed, R. S., E. G. D. Murray, and N. R. Smith: Bergey's manual of determinative bacteriology, 7th ed. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins Co. 1957.
Breznak, J. A. and E. Canale-Parola: Characterization of a pigmented, facultatively anaerobic spirochete. Bact. Proc. 1968, 44.
Bruin, J. H. De: Serological relationship between Treponema zuelzerae and the Reiter strain of Treponema pallidum. Antonie v. Leeuwenhoek 27, 98–102 (1961).
Canale-Parola, E., S. C. Holt, and Zigrida Udris: Isolation of free-living, anaerobic spirochetes. Arch. Mikrobiol. 59, 41–48 (1967).
Cantacuzène, J.: Sur un spirochète thermophile des eaux de Dax. C. R. Soc. biol. (Paris) 68, 75–77 (1910).
Cohn, F.: Untersuchungen über Bakterien. Beitr. Biol. 1 (Heft 1), 180 (1872).
Cox, C. D.: Standardization and stabilization of an extract from Leptospira biflexa and its use in the hemolytic test for leptospirosis. J. infect. Dis. 101, 203–209 (1957).
— A. D. Alexander, and L. C. Murphy: Evaluation of the hemolytic test in the serodiagnosis of human leptospirosis. J. infect. Dis. 101, 210–218 (1957).
Dobell, C.: Researches on the spirochaets and related organisms. Arch. Protistenk. 26, 117–240 (1912).
Dujardin, F.: Histoire naturelle des zoophytes, p. 209. Paris 1841.
Dyar, M. T.: Isolation and cytological study of a free-living spirochete. J. Bact. 54, 483–493 (1947).
Ehrenberg, C. G.: Dritter Beitrag zur Erkenntnis großer Organisation in der Richtung des kleinsten Raumes. Abhandl. Berl. Akad. 313 (1833).
Ehrenberg, C. G.: Die Infusionsthierchen als volkommene Organismen, S. 83. Leipzig 1838.
Gardner, G.: Spirochaetes of the district of Montreal and the province of Quebec. Canad. J. Res. 7, 221–232 (1932).
Holt, S. C., and E. Canale-Parola: Fine structure of Spirochaeta stenostrepta, a free-living, anaerobic spirochete. J. Bact. 96, 822–835 (1968).
Lewin, R. A.: Saprospira grandis Gross; and suggestions for reclassifying helical, apochlorotic, gliding organisms. Canad. J. Microbiol. 8, 555–563 (1962).
Mandel, M.: Deoxyribonucleic acid base composition in the genus Pseudomonas. J. gen. Microbiol. 43, 273–292 (1966).
Manouélian, Y.: Étude morphologique du Spirochaeta pallida. Modes de division. Spirochétogène syphilitique. Ann. Inst. Pasteur 64, 439–455 (1940).
Neish, A. C.: Analytical methods for bacterial fermentations. Nat. Res. Council of Canada, Report No. 46-8-3 (2d revision), Saskatoon 1952.
Ryter, A., and J. Pillot: Étude au microscope électronique de la structure externe et interne du tréponème Reiter. Ann. Inst. Pasteur 104, 496–501 (1963).
——: Structure des spirochètes. II. Étude du genre Cristispira au microscope optique et au microscope électronique. Ann. Inst. Pasteur 109, 552–562 (1965).
Starr, M. P., and V. B. D. Skerman: Bacterial diversity: the natural history of selected morphologically unusual bacteria. Ann. Rev. Microbiol. 19, 407–454 (1965).
Swain, R. H. A.: The electron microscopical anatomy of Leptospira canicola. J. Path. Bact. 73, 155–158 (1957).
Swellengebel, M.: Sur la cytologie comparée des Spirochètes. Ann. Inst. Pasteur 21, 581 (1907).
Veldkamp, H.: Isolation and characteristics of Treponema zuelzerae nov. spec., an anaerobic, free-living spirochete. Antonie v. Leeuwenhoek 26, 103–125 (1960).
Vinzent, R.: Isolement et culture de spirilles et de spirochètes des eaux. C. R. Soc. biol. (Paris) 95, 1472–1474 (1926).
Zuelzer, M.: Über Spirochaeta plicatilis Ehrbg. und deren Verwandtschaftsbeziehungen. Arch. Protistenk. 24, 1–59 (1911–1912).
—: Biologische und systematische Spirochätenuntersuchungen. Zbl. Bakt., I. Abt. Orig. 85, 154–167 (1921).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Canale-Parola, E., Udris, Z. & Mandel, M. The classification of free-living spirochetes. Archiv. Mikrobiol. 63, 385–397 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00412124
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00412124