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Livestock herds are scientifically recognized as being far more susceptible to agroterrorism than crops, largely due to past successes in eradicating animal diseases from herds and eliminating the need for vaccinations and monitoring for these diseases. Once infected with such a disease, livestock can rapidly transmit the disease to other unvaccinated animals. To some agroterrorists, zoonotic diseases may be more attractive weapons.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has recognized 20 animal pathogens that have the potential to pose a serious agroterrorist threat. A few of these have the potential for infecting multiple species of livestock and in some cases humans as well (for instance, anthrax, botulism, Q fever, and Rift Valley fever). Brucellosis, a bacterial disease, has several strains that affect cattle, pigs, and sheep. Encephalitis and glanders have shown to be great concerns for equine species.

Some of these diseases are considered dangerous enough to pose a threat but for different reasons are not generally focused on. One example is bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, or “mad cow disease”), which is highly unlikely to be a terrorist’s choice in an agroterrorist attack. Infection is not certain with BSE and symptoms can take years to fully manifest—and in some cases the disease is never detected in the infected animal at all.

LIVESTOCK PLANTS AND CROPS

Other Potential Biological Agents

Foot and mouth disease is far from being the only biological agent that poses a threat. There are hundreds of animal and plant pathogens available to agroterrorist, although only a handful represent valid economic and social threats. Factors that determine an agent’s potential for agroterrorism include contagiousness, how rapidly it can spread, and whether the agent is recognized internationally as a “reportable” pest or disease (one that is subject to quarantine) under rules of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE, or Office International des Epizooties).

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