n. pl. trep·o·ne·ma·ta (-mə-tə) or trep·o·ne·mas Any of a group of spirochetes of the genus Treponema, including those that cause syphilis, pinta, and yaws. [New Latin Treponēma, genus name : Greek trepein, to turn; see trep- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + Greek nēma, thread; see (s)nē- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] trep′o·nemal, trep′o·nema·tous (-nĕmə-təs) adj. |
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