Final answer:
Anthrax is a bacterial disease caused by the endospore-forming Bacillus anthracis and can be transmitted to humans from infected animals. It is of particular concern due to its potential as a biological weapon. The correct answer to the student's question is C) Bacterium.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anthrax is a bacterial disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, a gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium that forms endospores and can survive in soil for extended periods. This pathogen is known for causing severe diseases in cattle and humans. In humans, infection with B. anthracis can result in symptoms such as charcoal-black ulcers on the skin, severe enterocolitis, pneumonia, and brain swelling which can lead to death if untreated. The disease can spread from infected animals to humans through contact with animal products or by inhaling endospores.
Anthrax is also noteworthy as it has been utilized as a biological weapon, most infamously demonstrated by the 2001 anthrax attacks in the United States. Given the potential for widespread harm if the spores are aerosolized and inhaled, anthrax remains a concern for bioterrorism.
Answering the student's question, the correct choice for which bacterial pathogen causes anthrax is C) Bacterium.