Treponema

Treponema is a genus of small (0.1–0.4 µm in diameter and 6–10 µm long), gram-negative spirochetes. with regular, tight whorls and sharp ends. When fresh, they can only be observed with a dark field microscope or by phase contrast.

Features

The Treponema are helical bacteria that stain poorly with aniline dyes and easily with Giemsa or silver impregnation. They are mobile in liquid media by means of rotation or translation. They have 1 to 5 flagella, usually 3. They are chemoheterotrophic organisms, using a wide variety of carbohydrates or amino acids as a source of energy and carbon. They carry out strict anaerobic or microaerophilic respiration.

Pathogenesis

Pathogenic species are difficult to culture in the laboratory, making it more feasible to visualize the organism directly from the sample with direct immunofluorescence and certain specialized stains. They are normally parasites and pathogens of man and animals. They live in the oral cavity, digestive system and genital organs.

Species

• Treponema pallidumhuman pathogen, with three known subspecies.
  • Treponema pallidum pallidum, human pathogen, causal agent of syphilis.
  • Treponema pallidum pertenue, human pathogen, Pian causal agent.
  • Treponema pallidum endemicumHuman pathogen.
• Treponema carateum, human pathogen, causal agent of the Pinta.
• Treponema paraluiscuniculi, cause of rabbit syphilis.
• Treponema denticolaperiodontopathogen, carbohydrates are not fermented.
• Treponema vincentii, not pathogen, do not ferment carbohydrates.
• Treponema scoliodontum, not pathogen, do not ferment carbohydrates.
• Treponema refringens, not pathogen, do not ferment carbohydrates.
• Treponema minutum, not pathogen, do not ferment carbohydrates.
• Treponema phagedenis, not pathogen, ferment carbohydrates.
• Treponema succinifaciens, not pathogen, ferment carbohydrates.
• Treponema bryantii, not pathogens, ferment carbohydrate s.