What species are typically at risk for developing anthrax?
Anthrax is primarily an animal disease, occurring most often in hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and antelopes, which can ingest anthrax spores while grazing. Horses can also acquire anthrax by grazing, but incidence is lower. Dogs, cats, lions, and pigs can contract the disease by eating undercooked meat from infected animals. Anthrax spores have been isolated from the crops of sparrows, and birds of prey (e.g., vultures) have been implicated in the spread of anthrax spores through fecal contamination. Amphibians, reptiles, and fish are not directly susceptible.
