spirochete

noun

Any of various slender, spiral, motile bacteria of the order Spirochaetales, many of which are pathogenic, causing syphilis, relapsing fever, yaws, and other diseases.

noun

any of several coiled bacteria, of the order Spirochaetales, most of which are pathogenic to both humans and animals

noun

parasitic or free-living bacteria; many pathogenic to humans and other animals