treponemal
- adjective
- /ˌtrɛpəˈniːməl/
- Specialized
- Diagnosing treponemal infections, such as syphilis, often requires specific blood tests.
- treponemal disease
Examples
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The Pre-Columbian Hypothesis states that treponemal disease, which includes syphilis, existed before 1492 in the Old World but was confused diagnostically with other illnesses, including leprosy.
Academic text (2014) -
The study of treponemal disease in past populations and its ancient distribution has provided valuable information on how epidemics spread among populations.
Academic text (1996) -
It is unclear whether these diseases are all caused by different treponemal organisms.
Academic text (1996) -
A clear example of a health study that documents the singular contribution of studies of human remains is the question of the origin of treponemal disease.
Academic text (1996) -
Our understanding of our relationship to all contagious diseases has been dramatically improved by our unraveling of the history of treponemal diseases.
Academic text (1996) -
Supporting the above summary is that the three treponemal organisms (all spirochetes) most widely reported cannot be differentiated under a microscope (Crosby, 2003, p. 129).
Academic text (2014) -
Doctors frequently treat treponemal diseases with antibiotics to effectively eliminate the infection.
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Research into treponemal bacteria has significantly advanced scientists' understanding of syphilis transmission.
Surface Forms
Morphology
treponemal = Treponema (semi-transparent) = treponema + al
Formed regularly from the genus name + the adjectival suffix '-al', but the base is a specialized scientific name unfamiliar to average learners.
Etymology
Treponemal comes from the bacteria name treponema. That name was made from old Greek parts trepo- meaning 'to turn' and -nema meaning 'thread' because the bacteria look like a twisted thread. So treponemal means 'relating to those spiral, thread-like bacteria' that cause diseases such as syphilis.
