Animal Pavillion


Spirochete in Cow Rumen


 Kingdom: Eubacteria
Scientific Name: Spirochete
Image Courtesy of: Dazzo, Frank; Yokoyama, Mel
Image Width: 13 microns
Image Technology: Light Microscopy

Spirochetes are spiral-shaped bacteria. They swim along by twisting like a corkscrew. Spirochetes live in many habitats, including cow stomachs, termite guts and compost heaps. Many types of spirochetes cause diseases in animals, including humans. Most spirochetes are anaerobic. The spirochete is the squiggly microbe near the center of this view.