spirochete
noun
spi·ro·chete
ˈspī-rə-ˌkēt 
variants
or less commonly spirochaete
: any of an order (Spirochaetales) of slender spirally undulating bacteria including those causing syphilis and Lyme disease
Examples of spirochete in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ticks collected in California as early as 2000 were found to carry the new spirochete, for example.
—
Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 13 Apr. 2023
To this day, the mechanism of action of this malaria-on-syphilis, parasite-on-spirochete action is unknown (7).
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 31 May 2014
The spirochete lives permanently as a symbiont in the patient.
—Dick Teresi, Discover Magazine, 17 June 2011
The factor that determines whether acute Lyme disease becomes chronic is the interval between inoculation of the Lyme spirochete and the commencement of adequate treatment.
—BostonGlobe.com, 3 June 2022
Multiple sclerosis is often associated with the commonplace Epstein-Barr virus, rheumatic fever with the same bacteria that cause strep throat, and Lyme, famously, with bites from ticks that carry a spirochete called Borrelia burgdorferi.
—Ross Douthat, Star Tribune, 2 Feb. 2021
Through this method, India became yaws-free in 2016, though the emergence of antibiotic resistance in the spirochete may complicate efforts.
—Quanta Magazine, 3 Dec. 2019
Acute encephalitis syndrome, including Japanese encephalitis, is caused by several different viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, spirochetes, chemical and toxins.
—Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2019
Barbour had spent the year learning the complex requirements for growing Borrelia, a type of spirochete transmitted by ticks or lice.
—Allen Steere, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2019
Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 13 Apr. 2023
To this day, the mechanism of action of this malaria-on-syphilis, parasite-on-spirochete action is unknown (7).
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 31 May 2014
The spirochete lives permanently as a symbiont in the patient.
—Dick Teresi, Discover Magazine, 17 June 2011
The factor that determines whether acute Lyme disease becomes chronic is the interval between inoculation of the Lyme spirochete and the commencement of adequate treatment.
—BostonGlobe.com, 3 June 2022
Multiple sclerosis is often associated with the commonplace Epstein-Barr virus, rheumatic fever with the same bacteria that cause strep throat, and Lyme, famously, with bites from ticks that carry a spirochete called Borrelia burgdorferi.
—Ross Douthat, Star Tribune, 2 Feb. 2021
Through this method, India became yaws-free in 2016, though the emergence of antibiotic resistance in the spirochete may complicate efforts.
—Quanta Magazine, 3 Dec. 2019
Acute encephalitis syndrome, including Japanese encephalitis, is caused by several different viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, spirochetes, chemical and toxins.
—Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2019
Barbour had spent the year learning the complex requirements for growing Borrelia, a type of spirochete transmitted by ticks or lice.
—Allen Steere, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2019
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spirochete.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Spirochete.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spirochete. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spirochete
noun
spi·ro·chete
variants
also spirochaete
: any of a group of slender coiled bacteria including one that causes syphilis
Medical Definition
spirochete
noun
spi·ro·chete
variants
or chiefly British spirochaete
: any bacterium of the order Spirochaetales including those causing syphilis and relapsing fever
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