xoắn trùng
Definition
- Noun:
- Spirochete: A type of long, slender, spiral-shaped bacterium that moves in a corkscrew-like motion. This is the primary and most precise scientific meaning of "xoắn trùng," referring to bacteria of the order Spirochaetales.
- Spirillum: In less precise or older terminology, it can sometimes refer to other spiral-shaped bacteria. However, "spirochete" is the more accurate and specific translation.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Bệnh giang mai do xoắn trùng Treponema pallidum gây ra. (Syphilis is caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum.)
- Xoắn trùng có hình dạng đặc trưng như lò xo. (Spirochetes have a characteristic spring-like shape.)
- Dưới kính hiển vi, có thể thấy xoắn trùng di chuyển linh hoạt. (Under a microscope, spirochetes can be seen moving flexibly.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is almost exclusively used in medical, biological, and microbiological contexts to describe pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria.
- It is a compound noun formed from "xoắn" (to twist, to spiral) and "trùng" (a microbe, germ, or worm), literally meaning "spiral microbe."
Variants and Related Words
- Xoắn khuẩn (n): This is a direct synonym with identical meaning (spirochete). As noted in the reference, "xoắn trùng" is defined as "như xoắn khuẩn" (same as xoắn khuẩn).
Synonyms
- Spirochete: The direct and most accurate English equivalent.
- Spiral bacterium: A more general descriptive term.
Related Terms (Scientific Context)
- Treponema: A genus of spirochetes (e.g., causes syphilis).
- Borrelia: A genus of spirochetes (e.g., causes Lyme disease).
- Leptospira: A genus of spirochetes (causes leptospirosis).