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

When would bioterrorism be suspected in relation to anthrax diagnosis?

1. In both humans and animals at the same time in the Dakotas

2. In a farmer in Texas

3. In people, cattle and dogs in Washington

4. In several dead cattle after heavy storms

The correct answer is: In people, cattle and dogs in Washington

The suspicion of bioterrorism in relation to anthrax diagnosis is most relevant in scenarios where there are simultaneous outbreaks affecting both human and animal populations, particularly when unusual patterns arise geographically or temporally. The context of the answer highlights an alarming situation where multiple species are impacted concurrently—people, cattle, and dogs in Washington—suggesting that the occurrence could be the result of a deliberate act rather than a natural outbreak. Anthrax is a zoonotic disease that can infect a range of species, and when it appears in unusual clusters across different species in a specific area, it raises red flags for potential bioterrorism. Typically, outbreaks of anthrax manifest in animals first, especially in cattle due to their exposure to spores in environments where anthrax is endemic, but human infections usually follow specific exposure routes. In this scenario, the diversity of the affected species, alongside the unusual clustering in a specific geographic area, strongly implies a concerning situation that warrants further investigation for the possibility of intentional release of the anthrax pathogen. Such occurrences are exceptional and would be monitored closely by public health and veterinary authorities for potential biothreat activities.