Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
The taxonomic assignment of genus Spirillum is currently unstable, being
placed in either Class Spirochaetes or in Class Beta Proteobacteria. Adding
to the confusion, the only human pathogen in the genus, produces a disease
that is attributed to two separate classes of organisms. Rat-bite fever is
caused by either Spirillum minus or by Streptobacillus moniliformus (Class
Fusobacteria, Chapter 10) [49]. Evidently, diseases do not read taxonomic
textbooks. Regardless of the causative organism, or the phylogenetic classes
to which the organisms are assigned, the clinical symptoms are similar, as is
the treatment.
Infectious species:
Leptospira species, including Leptospira interrogans (leptospirosis, Weil
disease, Weil syndrome, canicola fever, canefield fever, nanukayami fever,
7-day fever, rat catcher's yellows, Fort Bragg fever, and pretibial fever)
Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease in the United States)
Borrelia afzelii (Lyme disease in Europe)
Borrelia garinii (Lyme disease in Europe)
Borrelia duttonii (tick-borne relapsing fever, typhinia)
Borrelia recurrentis (louse-borne relapsing fever, typhinia)
Borrelia hermsii (tick-borne relapsing fever, typhinia)
Borrelia parkerii (tick-borne relapsing fever, typhinia)
Borrelia lonestari (Southern tick-associated rash illness, STARI)
Brachyspira pilosicoli,formerlySerpulina pilosicoli (diarrhea, spirochetosis)
Brachyspira aalborgi (appendicitis)
Treponema carateum, alternately known as Treponema pallidum var
carateum (pinta)
Treponema pallidum, alternately known as Treponoma pallidum var
pallidum (syphilis, congenital syphilis)
Treponema endemicum, alternately known as Treponema pallidum var
endemicum (bejel)
Treponema pertenue, alternately known as Treponema pallidum var pertenue
(Yaws, frambesia tropica, Pian)
Treponema denticola (periodontal disease and opportunistic infections)
Spirillum minus (rat-bite fever)
