THE OCCURRENCE OF TREPONEMES AND THEIR SPHERICAL BODIES ON POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE MEMBRANES

The occurrence of small (diameter 0.125 mu m) and large (diameter 0.27 mu m) treponemal species on expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane s were demonstrated in vivo. In the apical part of the expanded polyte trafluoroethylene membrane only the smaller treponemes were colonizing , while in other parts a mixed population of different bacterial speci es including large treponemes was seen. Only the smaller treponemes we re able to form spherical bodies in the occlusive part of the membrane . AU morphological characteristics of spherical bodies such as common outer sheath, randomly distributed axial flagella, sheathless protopla smic cylinders and central bodies could be differentiated. Possible ca uses for the formation of spherical bodies are discussed.