Anthrax in cattle most commonly presents as which form of disease?

• A. Most commonly presents as peracute disease after ingestion or inhalation of spores; bloody discharges from the dead animals contaminate the environment
• B. Most commonly presents as a chronic illness with coughing
• C. Is rare because cattle are fairly resistant; however, peracute disease can result after exposure to large doses
• D. Most commonly presents as a skin infection with local swelling

Answer: (A)

Anthrax in cattle is best understood as a rapid, toxin-mediated septicemia that typically appears peracutely after ingestion or inhalation of Bacillus anthracis spores. The hallmark is sudden death with little or no warning, and if carcasses are opened, there are often bloody discharges from orifices that can quickly contaminate the environment. This environmental contamination helps explain why the disease is so feared in cattle herds and why rapid, strict control is essential.

The other patterns don’t fit cattle as well. A chronic illness with coughing isn’t the usual course for bovine anthrax, and while large doses can cause severe disease, calling cattle generally resistant is not accurate—the peracute form is the typical presentation. The skin form with local swelling is more characteristic of other species (and less common in cattle).