Abstract

Avian tuberculosis (ATB) is a chronic infectious disease of poultry caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium and is widespread in various regions of the world. This disease has a serious impact on poultry health and causes significant economic losses, primarily due to decreased body condition, reduced egg production, and increased mortality, particularly in young birds or individuals with compromised immune systems. Furthermore, ATB poses an opportunistic zoonotic risk, particularly for immunocompromised humans, highlighting its relevance within the One Health framework. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of ATB, covering etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical symptoms, diagnostic methods, risk factors, economic implications, and prevention and control efforts. Unlike previous reviews, this study integrates recent findings on epidemiological patterns, zoonotic considerations, and current diagnostic and control approaches to provide an updated perspective on ATB in both domestic and wild bird populations. Infection transmission can occur through consumption of contaminated feed or water, exposure to aerosols, and direct or indirect contact with infected poultry or wild birds that act as reservoirs. A multimodal approach involving clinical evaluation, histopathology, acid-fast staining, bacterial culture, molecular methods, and serology is generally required to establish a diagnosis of ATB. Given the limited effectiveness of pharmacological therapies, control strategies are focused on biosecurity, improved environmental sanitation, isolation or culling of infected birds, and vaccine development. This review emphasizes the importance of implementing integrated control strategies to limit disease spread, maintain poultry health, reduce zoonotic risks, and minimize economic impacts. This review is expected to support the development of more effective surveillance and control strategies for ATB by synthesizing current knowledge and highlighting research gaps.

Key words: Avian tuberculosis; Mycobacterium avium; Disease; Poultry; Zoonosis.