treponema

American  

[trep-uh-nee-muh] / ˌtrɛp əˈni mə /

noun

plural

treponemas, treponemata

1. any of several anaerobic spirochetes of the genus Treponema, certain species of which are parasitic in and pathogenic for humans and warm-blooded animals.

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treponema British  

/ ˌtrɛpəˈnɛmətəs, ˈtrɛpəniːm, ˌtrɛpəˈniːmə /

noun

1. any anaerobic spirochaete bacterium of the genus Treponema , such as T. pallidum which causes syphilis

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Other Word Forms

• treponemal adjective
• treponematous adjective

Etymology

Origin of treponema

1905–10; < New Latin: genus name < Greek trép ( ein ) to turn + -o- -o- + nêma thread

Example Sentences

The diagnosis of luetic lesions of the esophagus, therefore, depends upon the history, presence of luetic lesions elsewhere, the serologic reaction, therapeutic test, examination of tissue, and the demonstration of the treponema pallidum.

From Bronchoscopy and Esophagoscopy A Manual of Peroral Endoscopy and Laryngeal Surgery by Jackson, Chevalier

It may be in some cases possible to demonstrate the treponema pallidum in scrapings taken from the ulcer.

From Bronchoscopy and Esophagoscopy A Manual of Peroral Endoscopy and Laryngeal Surgery by Jackson, Chevalier