Spirochaeta interrogans is a type of bacterium that causes Leptospirosis, a disease that affects both humans and animals. The word Spirochaeta is pronounced as /spɪrəˈkiːtə/, with emphasis on the second syllable. The "ch" sound is pronounced as in "loch", and the "ae" combination is pronounced as a single long "e" sound. Interrogans is pronounced as /ɪnˈtɛrəɡænz/, with emphasis on the second syllable. The "g" is pronounced as in "go", and the "ans" is pronounced as a single syllable. This spelling follows the rules of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).
Spirochaeta interrogans is a bacterium belonging to the genus Spirochaeta, which is characterized by its spiral-shaped morphology and flexible cell wall. It is an anaerobic organism that typically resides in the bloodstream and tissues of mammals, including humans. This bacterium is the causative agent of leptospirosis, a zoonotic infectious disease that can affect both animals and humans.
The morphology of Spirochaeta interrogans consists of long, thin, and flexible spiral-shaped cells, allowing them to easily move and navigate through various environments such as water and soil. These bacterium possess a flagellum at each end, which aids in their motility. They are Gram-negative and thus their cell walls lack the thick peptidoglycan layer that characterizes Gram-positive bacteria.
Spirochaeta interrogans is transmitted to humans through contact with contaminated water, soil, or animal urine that contains the viable bacteria. Once the bacterium enters the body, it quickly spreads through the bloodstream, causing damage to multiple organs including the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. Symptoms of leptospirosis can vary from mild to severe and may include fever, headache, muscle pain, and in severe cases, jaundice, kidney failure, and meningitis.
Diagnosis of Spirochaeta interrogans is typically based on the detection of antibodies in blood or cerebrospinal fluid samples, or the direct visualization of the bacteria in bodily fluid under a microscope. Treatment usually involves the administration of antibiotics such as penicillin or doxycycline.
Preventing the transmission of Spirochaeta interrogans involves avoiding contact with infected animals and their urine, practicing good hygiene, and taking precautions when in potentially contaminated environments.
Provisional name given to a spirochete found in the kidney in a case of yellow fever.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word Spirochaeta interrogans is a scientific name used to identify a species of bacteria known as Leptospira interrogans, which causes the infectious disease leptospirosis.
The etymology of Spirochaeta interrogans can be broken down as follows:
- Spirochaeta: Derived from the Latin words spira meaning coil and chaeta meaning hair, referring to the spiral or corkscrew-like shape of the bacteria.
- interrogans: Latin for asking or interrogating, reflecting the diagnostic difficulties faced in identifying the bacteria due to its ability to masquerade as other diseases.
Together, Spirochaeta interrogans essentially means coil-shaped bacteria that asks questions or interrogating spiral bacteria.