VMC 311: Systematic Veterinary Bacteriology and Mycology (2+1)

SYSTEMATICS

Domain	Bacteria
Phylum	Spirochaetes
Class	Spirochaetes(Spira- coil, Chaite- hair)
Order	Spirochaetales
Family	Spirochaetaceae
Genus	Borrelia
Family	Serpulinaceae
Genus	Serpulina
Family	Leptospiraceae
Genus	Leptospira(Leptos-fine or thin) Leptonema

• The spirochaetes are slender, motile, unicellular, helically coiled, bacteria ranging from 0.1 -3µm in width.
• Based on pathogenicity, DNA composition, and inability to grow at 13ºC the genus Leptospira has traditionally been divided into two groups
  • The pathogenic species - L.interrogans
  • Free-living non-pathogenic strains - L.biflexa
• The common Leptospira interrogans serovars are L.interrogans serovar Pomona, L.interrogans serovar Hardojobovis, L.interrogans serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae, L.interrogans serovar Canicola, L.interrogans serovar Grippotyphosa, L.interrogans serovar Bratislava, and L.interrogans serovar Tarassovi.