Leptospira
Leptospira
Leptospira (pronounced: lep-toe-spy-rah) is a genus of spirochete bacteria, including a number of pathogenic and saprophytic species.
Etymology
The term "Leptospira" is derived from the Greek words "lepto" meaning thin and "spira" meaning coil. It was named for its thin, coiled shape.
Definition
Leptospira is a type of bacteria that is aerobic, gram-negative, and highly motile. It is characterized by its thin, tightly coiled shape and flagella at both ends. The bacteria are known to cause the disease leptospirosis, which can lead to severe kidney damage, liver failure, and meningitis in humans and animals.
Related Terms
- Leptospirosis: A bacterial disease caused by Leptospira. It is often transmitted through the urine of infected animals and can be contracted by humans through contact with contaminated water or soil.
- Spirochete: A group of gram-negative bacteria that includes Leptospira, characterized by their long, spiral shape.
- Bacteria: Single-celled microorganisms that can exist either as independent (free-living) organisms or as parasites (dependent on another organism for life).
- Flagella: A lash-like appendage that protrudes from the cell body of certain bacteria and eukaryotic cells, including Leptospira, used for locomotion.
- Gram-negative bacteria: Bacteria that do not retain the crystal violet stain used in the gram-staining method of bacterial differentiation.
- Aerobic bacteria: Bacteria that require oxygen to grow.
- Meningitis: An acute inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. It can be caused by Leptospira.
- Kidney damage: A condition in which the kidneys are damaged and cannot filter blood as well as healthy kidneys. It can be a complication of leptospirosis.
- Liver failure: A condition in which all functions of the liver are severely below normal. It can be a complication of leptospirosis.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Leptospira
- Wikipedia's article - Leptospira
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski