In shape bacteria show three different types; the rod-shaped (bacillus), the spherical (coccus), and the spiral (spirillum).
The spirillum is a very slender, wavy thread, about 30 to 40 long.
spirillum, spī-ril′um, n. a genus of bacteria with cylindrical spirally twisted cells:—pl.
By far the most important of these is the spirillum or spirochete of Obermeier, which has been already carefully described.
For the tick that carries the spirillum is blind and cannot climb any smooth surface.
In Spirorbis Pagenstecheri they develop inside the opercular tentacle, and in Spirorbis spirillum inside the tube of the parent.
The spirillum of relapsing fever can be identified by the method for the malarial parasite in fresh blood.
Vibrio spirillum is excessively minute, colourless, and found in decomposing vegetable mixtures.
(plural spirilla), 1875, Modern Latin, diminutive of Latin spira (see spiral (adj.)). So called for their structure.
spirillum spi·ril·lum (spī-rĭl'əm)
n. pl. spi·ril·la (-rĭl'ə)
A member of the genus Spirillum.
Any of various other spiral-shaped microorganisms.
Spirillum n.
A genus of large, aerobic, gram-negative bacteria having an elongated spiral form and a tuft of flagella.
