Which organism is a spirochete?

Which organism is a spirochete?

• A. Leptospira grippotyphosa
• B. Corynebacterium pyogenes
• C. Streptococcus pyogenes
• D. Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Answer: (A)

Spirochetes are slender, spiral-shaped bacteria that move with axial filaments located between their membranes, producing a distinctive corkscrew motion. Among the organisms listed, Leptospira grippotyphosa fits that description with its helical, thread-like shape. The others are not spiral-shaped: Corynebacterium pyogenes is a Gram-positive rod, Streptococcus pyogenes is a Gram-positive cocci arranged in chains, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an acid-fast rod with a waxy cell wall. Therefore, Leptospira grippotyphosa is the spirochete.

Spirochetes are slender, spiral-shaped bacteria that move with axial filaments located between their membranes, producing a distinctive corkscrew motion. Among the organisms listed, Leptospira grippotyphosa fits that description with its helical, thread-like shape. The others are not spiral-shaped: Corynebacterium pyogenes is a Gram-positive rod, Streptococcus pyogenes is a Gram-positive cocci arranged in chains, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an acid-fast rod with a waxy cell wall. Therefore, Leptospira grippotyphosa is the spirochete.