Clinical Signs of Anthrax

Anthrax in cattle has a very rapid onset. Once spores have been ingested, they infect macrophages (cells that are formed by the immune system in response to an infection), germinate and begin to multiply. 

It is believed that the disease symptoms only last for 2-3 hours, so the most common symptom is sudden death. Often blood does not clot after death resulting in bloody discharge from any body openings (rectum, mouth, nostrils, etc.).