Leptospirae: their place in the systematics.

The morphology and electron-microscopic anatomy of Leptospirae, the lack of the presence of leptospiral phages (and probably of bacteriocins), and the absence of phagocytosis as a defence mechanism in leptospirosis, indicate the non-bacteriologie character of this genus. Leptospirae form an evolutionary intermediate bridge between the worlds of bacteria and protozoa. In "Bergey's Manual" they are assigned to the world of bacteria for practical reasons; but it seems to be reasonable to stress more largely the "bacteriological" and "protozoologic" markers of Leptospirae, in the subsequent 9th edition of this Manual.