1. A spiral-shaped bacterium of the genus Leptospira that causes leptospirosis, a disease transmitted to humans through contact with infected animal urine.
Usage: technical; microbiology

Examples

• The leptospire bacterium is commonly found in the urine of infected rats and other rodents.
• Leptospires can survive in water and soil for extended periods, making contaminated water sources a major transmission route.
• Under a microscope, leptospires appear as thin, tightly coiled spiral structures.
• Farmers and veterinarians are at higher risk of exposure to leptospires through occupational contact.
• The leptospire causes a wide range of symptoms in humans, from mild fever to severe kidney and liver damage.