In the past, anthrax was one of the major killers of domestic animals worldwide. Over the course of history, anthrax also caused many human deaths. The devastation wrought by this fearful affliction prompted scientists and doctors to develop methods to prevent and treat the disease.

Development and Use of Anthrax Vaccines for Animals

In 1863 the French scientist Casimir-Joseph Davaine isolated "rodshaped organisms" from the bodies of animals that had died from anthrax. He also demonstrated that anthrax could be passed to healthy animals by injection of blood from infected creatures. In 1876 the German physician Robert Koch proved that the "rodshaped organisms," which were Bacillus anthracis bacteria, caused anthrax. He also described the bacteria's life cycle. These scientific breakthroughs provided researchers with the information necessary to develop anthrax vaccines.

The first anthrax vaccine for animals contained live, but attenuated (weakened) Bacillus...