spirochete
spi.ro.chete or spi.ro.chaete \'spi--r*-.ke-t\ n [NL Spirochaeta, genus of bacteria, fr. L spira coil + Gk chaite]- long hair - more at SPIRE, CHAETA : any of an order (Spirochaetales) of slender spirally undulating bacteria including those causing syphilis and relapsing fever