The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Spirochaeta \Spi`ro*chae"ta\, Spirochaete \Spi`ro*chae"te\, n. [L. spira a coil + Gr. ??? hair.] (Biol.) A genus of Spirobacteria similar to Spirillum, but distinguished by its motility. One species, the Spirochaete Obermeyeri, is supposed to be the cause of relapsing fever. [1913 Webster]