Bovine tuberculosis is a major infectious disease among cattles, other farm animals and certain wildlife populations. It results from infection with Mycobacterium bovis and can be transmitted either through respiration or by ingestion. Bovine TB is a chronic disease and it usually takes many months for clinical signs to develop. It is a significant zoonosis that can spread to humans through aerosols and by the consumption of unpasteurized milk or dairy products from infected cows. Avian tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease characterized by the formation of granulomatous lesions in viscera, a progressive weight loss and death. It is usually encountered sporadically in birds reared in small yards, zoos and is a problem among caged exotic birds. The disease is contagious and spread by contact with infected domestic and wild animals. The detection of infected animals is one of the main factors involved in tuberculosis control and, with some variations, is performed through intradermal tuberculin tests. Nevertheless, skin test-negative animals may be infected and represent an important threat to bovine tuberculosis eradication programs.