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treponema

noun
trep·​o·​ne·​ma | \ ˌtre-pə-ˈnē-mə How to pronounce treponema (audio) \
plural treponemata\ ˌtre-​pə-​ˈnē-​mə-​tə How to pronounce treponemata (audio) \ or treponemas

Definition of treponema

: any of a genus (Treponema) of spirochetes that are pathogenic in humans and other warm-blooded animals and include the causative agents of syphilis and yaws
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Other Words from treponema

treponemal \ ˌtre-​pə-​ˈnē-​məl How to pronounce treponemal (audio) \ adjective

Examples of treponema in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 Her own research has led her to suspect that the treponema bacteria originated in the New World, manifesting as yaws and spread through skin-to-skin contact exposed by a warm climate. — National Geographic, "Syphilis DNA Pulled From Colonial-Era Bones," 21 June 2018

First Known Use of treponema

1908, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for treponema

New Latin Treponemat-, Treponema, from Greek trepein to turn + nēma thread, from nēn to spin — more at needle

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More Definitions for treponema

treponema

noun
trep·​o·​ne·​ma | \ ˌtrep-ə-ˈnē-mə How to pronounce treponema (audio) \

Medical Definition of treponema

1 capitalized : a genus of the family Spirochaetaceae comprising anaerobic spirochetes that are pathogenic in humans and other warm-blooded animals and include one (T. pallidum) causing syphilis and another (T. pertenue) causing yaws
2 plural treponemata\ -​mət-​ə How to pronounce treponemata (audio)\ or treponemas : any spirochete of the genus Treponema

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