A cross-sectional study to assess the epidemiology and zoonotic implication of bovinerntuberculosis (BTB) was conducted on 1055 cattle in and around Debre Birhan between Decemberrn2006 and October 2007 using a comparative intradermal tuberculin (CIDT) test, abattoirrnsurveillance, bacteriology and molecular typing. Besides, 140 livestock owners were interviewedrnfor the evaluation of the zoonotic potential of BTB. On the basis of the CIDT test, animal andrnherd prevalence were 2.7% (14/524) and 9.3% (13/140), respectively, while in abattoir-basedrnstudy the prevalence was 22% (117/531). Male animals were more likely (OR= 1.7; P=0.012;rn95% CI: 1.12, 2.55) to exhibit tuberculous lesions as compared to female animals. The proportionrnof culture positivity was 32% (40/125) in tissue samples. But, because of the scarcity ofrnmolecular facilities, only nine isolates were typed in Veterinary Laboratory Agency (VLA),rnUnited Kingdom. Out of these, seven isolates were positive for the genus Mycobacterium ofrnwhich two were identified as M. tuberculosis. The two M. tuberculosis species had the samernspoligotype pattern. Awareness of cattle owners about BTB was poor (25.7%) and thus cattlernowners were found to consume raw milk, soured milk product (yoghurt) and raw meat. A total ofrn3407 TB patients received short course therapy in health institutions found in Debre Birhan withrnin five years, of which 79.9% (2723/3407) were between 15 to 50 years. Thus, detection of BTBrnboth in live and slaughtered animals, lower awareness of cattle owners about the disease and thernprevailing habit of consumption of animal products would suggest the potential role of BTB as arnzoonosis, while the isolation of M. tuberculosis from animal tissues warrants the existence ofrntransmission of this agent from humans to animals. Therefore, practical and sound controlrnmethods such as strict meat inspection, boiling of milk and cooking of meat, and public educationrnto raise the awareness on the transmission of the disease are recommended.