Transboundary Emerging and Exotic Animal Disease/ Exotic Animal Disease Practice Exam

Anthrax spores can be aerosolized when:

1. They are weaponized

2. They are exposed to humidity

3. They are mixed with dirt

4. They are formed from contaminated tissue exposure to oxygen

The correct answer is: They are weaponized

The correct answer pertains to the weaponization of anthrax spores, which involves processes that facilitate their aerosolization as a means of dispersal in biological warfare or bioterrorism scenarios. When anthrax spores are weaponized, they are specifically engineered or manipulated to enhance their ability to remain airborne for extended periods, thereby increasing their potential to infect a large number of individuals over a wide area. This concept gains significance due to the infectious nature of anthrax spores. They are naturally resilient and can survive in harsh conditions, making them a concern for airborne transmission when deliberately aerosolized. Weaponization often involves processes that ensure the spores are small enough to be effectively inhaled while also stabilizing them to prevent clumping, which could hinder their dispersal. In contrast, the other choices do not accurately reflect the primary means by which anthrax spores can become aerosolized. For example, exposure to humidity generally leads to the aggregation of spores rather than their dispersal. Simply mixing spores with dirt does not facilitate aerosolization; rather, it could encapsulate the spores, reducing their potential for airborne transmission. The formation of spores from contaminated tissue exposure to oxygen is a natural process during the life cycle of the anthrax bacterium but does not inherently lead to aerosolization