Borrelia vincenti

Borrelia vincenti

B. vincenti is a motile spirochete measuring 7–18mm in lengthand 0.2–0.6 mm in breadth. It is Gram negative and is usu-ally stained with Giemsa and Leishman stain. B. vincenti is an obligate anaerobe found as normal commensal in the mouth. The bacteria under certain predisposing conditions (such as malnutrition and viral infections) produce a condition known as Vincent’s angina. Vincent’s angina is an ulcerative gingivostomatitis or oropharyngitis often associated with fusiform bacilli (Fusobacterium fusiforme). It is characterized by formation of ulcer on the mouth and on tonsillar areas.

      Laboratory diagnosis of the condition is made by demon-stration of B. vincenti and fusiform bacilli in stained smears of exudate from the lesion. This bacterium is grown with diffi-culty on enriched media anaerobically.

      Penicillin and metronidazole are effective for treatment of the condition.