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Spirochaete Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.
Spirochaete facts for kids
Spirochaetes (or Spirochetes) are the phylum Spirochaetae. These are double-membrane bacteria with long, helically coiled (spiral-shaped) cells.
Spirochaetes are bacteria. They have flagella, which run lengthwise between the cell wall and outer membrane. The flagella cause a twisting motion which moves the spirochaete about.
Most spirochaetes are free-living and anaerobic, but there are many parasitic species.
Classification
The spirochaetes are divided into three families (Brachyspiraceae, Leptospiraceae, and Spirochaetaceae). They are all put in a single order, the Spirochaetales. Disease-causing members of this phylum include:
- Leptospira species, some of which which cause leptospirosis
- Borrelia species, some of which cause Lyme disease
- Borrelia recurrentis, which causes relapsing fever.
- Brachyspira species, which cause intestinal spirochaetosis.