SPIRILLA
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Spirilla are microorganisms shaped like spiral rods with 2-3 coils. Unlike spirochetes, they are not flexible and have rigid bodies. They are motile, with one or more flagella at one or both ends. Most spirilla form pigment, are Gram-positive, and are found in water and decaying liquids.
Encyclopedia article (1928–1936)
SPIRILLA, microorganisms that have the form of spiral rods with 2-3 coils. Unlike spirochetes, spirilla are not flexible, their bodies are rigid. They are motile, and at one or both ends of their body there is one or several flagella. Many spirilla form pigment. They are stained by Gram's method. They are found in water and in decaying liquids. Mostly facultative aerobes; they do not form indole. The optimal growth temperature is 20-25°. Some species liquefy gelatin, others do not, and they cloud broth during growth. Some species have not yet been obtained in pure culture. Spirilla are not pathogenic, with the exception of S. morsus muris (see Sodoku), which some authors in the system of microorganisms classify as spirochetes (see), and others as spirilla. Among the most commonly encountered representatives are: S. undulans up to 15 μ in length; S. rubrum, which forms a red pigment; S. volutans—one of the largest bacterial species, reaching a length of up to 45 μ.
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“SPIRILLA.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/spirilla/