Anaplasmosis does not infect humans. Anthrax Anthrax, a disease of mammals and humans, is caused by a spore-forming bacterium called Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax has an almost worldwide distribution and is a zoonotic disease, meaning it may spread from animals to humans. All mammals appear to be susceptible to anthrax to some degree, but ruminants, such as cattle, sheep, and goats, are the most susceptible and commonly affected, followed by horses, and then swine. In ruminants, the disease is generally characterized by sudden death.
Ruminants contract the disease primarily through ingestion of soilborne anthrax spores.
Anthrax does not spread by contact between animals. Anthrax has received greater attention recently because of its potential as an agent in biological weapons, both on the battlefield and in a terrorist strike. Bovine TB, caused by M. bovis, can be transmitted from livestock to humans and other animals. No other TB organism has as great a host range as bovine TB, which can infect all warmblooded vertebrates. M. avium can affect all species of birds, as well as hogs and cattle.