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

Which bacterium is known for causing a disease characterized by sudden death and is also a biological weapon?

1. Clostridium hemolyticum

2. Escherichia coli

3. Bacillus anthracis

4. Yersinia pestis

The correct answer is: Bacillus anthracis

The bacterium known for causing a disease characterized by sudden death and recognized as a biological weapon is Bacillus anthracis. This organism is responsible for anthrax, which can manifest in different forms, including a highly lethal form that can lead to rapid death, especially in its inhalational form. Bacillus anthracis produces spores that can be easily disseminated, making it a serious concern in bioterrorism scenarios. The spores can survive in a dormant state for long periods in the environment, allowing them to be released and inhaled or ingested, leading to severe illness or death in infected individuals. This capacity for spore formation and its potential for use as a biological weapon highlights its significance in public health and biosecurity. In contrast, the other bacteria listed, while they can cause significant diseases in animals and humans, do not carry the same level of recognition as biological weapons. Clostridium hemolyticum primarily causes liver necrosis in animals rather than rapid death in humans and lacks the features that would categorize it as a biological threat. Escherichia coli is widely known for causing gastrointestinal infections, but it is generally not associated with sudden death or classified as a biological weapon. Yersinia pestis, while infamous