That's sexual reproduction. These tiny ball-like structures consist of an outer wall surrounding a nucleus and other cell material. A spore can grow into a new individual without uniting with another reproductive cell. Some have alternate cycles of sexual and asexual reproduction. Anthrax spores make a nearly perfect biological weapon because they withstand extreme dryness, heat, ultraviolet light, radiation, and many disinfectants.
Most cases of anthrax occur in cattle and other grazing animals.
Rare in the United States, anthrax still is a problem in parts of Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and some other places. People get infected from contact with infected animals, animal products, or con-taminated soil. Once inside a person, anthrax spores grow into full-fledged bacteria, which spread throughout the body and produce toxins. These poisonous chemical compounds can cause terrible illness and kill within three days. Anthrax can be prevented with a vaccine and treated with antibiotics.