Spirochaetaceae

A family of bacteria (order Spirochaetales) consisting of coarse, spiral cells, 30–50 μm in length and possessing definite protoplasmic structures. These organisms occur in stagnant, fresh, or salt water and in the intestinal tracts of bivalve molluscs. The type genus is Spirochaeta. See Spirochaeta.

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Spi·ro·chae·ta·ce·ae .spī-rə-kē-'tā-sē-.ē n pl a family comprising large coarsely spiral bacteria of the order Spirochaetales that are free-living in fresh or salt water or associated with animal or human hosts

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Spi·ro·chae·ta·ceae (spi″ro-ke-taґse-e) [spiro-¹ + Gr. chaitē hair] a family of bacteria of the order Spirochaetales consisting of slender, undulating, motile organisms, 6 to 500 μm in length, occurring in the form of spirals with one or more complete turns in the helix. Organisms of medical interest are contained in the genera Borrelia and Treponema.