Theriogenology Query
Author Instructions: Theriogenology Query
The digital edition of JAVMA is the journal of record. Accepted articles may be published in both the print and digital editions or the digital edition alone, as decided by the editorial staff.
Theriogenology Query: Serves as a learning exercise for readers, the majority of whom are general practitioners, by providing clinically relevant information concerning the evaluation and treatment of animals with reproductive and obstetrical problems and genital diseases. Possible topics include commonly seen reproductive problems in domestic or exotic animals. Reproductive problems in herds of dairy and beef cattle, sheep, goats, horses, and exotic hoof stock; in kennels or catteries; or in flocks of domestic or exotic fowl are also appropriate. Please note: We are prioritizing those cases that are broadly educational to the veterinary community above the rarer, referral type case.
Limits
Title: ≤ 160 characters
Word count: ≤ 1,400 (excludes acknowledgments and references)
Authors: ≤ 6
References: ≤ 5
Video: encouraged
Formatting (applies to main text, references, and figure legends)
- 8.5 x 11-inch page size
- Sequential line numbering (starting with title)
- Double spaced
- Left justification
- 12-point font
- 1-inch (2.5-cm) margins
- Word document
Organization
Manuscript text file (in order and uploaded as a single document; includes title page, body of the manuscript, acknowledgments, and references, but not video, figures, or figure legends)
- Title page—Includes the following:
- Manuscript title—Includes case context without giving away the diagnosis. For example, “Tail rubbing and absent tail tone in a Morgan–Quarter Horse crossbred gelding,” “Organomegaly, lethargy, and hind limb trembling in a 3-year-old intact male Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus),” “Difficulty walking and trembling in a 10-year-old female Akita Inu,” or “Abnormal behavior, and whole-body tremors in a two-year-old Tennessee Fainting Goat cross wether.”
- Author list—Limited to 6 authors. Include the first name, middle initial (if applicable), and last name of each author, along with each author’s professional degree and highest earned academic degree (eg, MS or PhD, MPVM) and, for authors who are diplomates of veterinary specialty organizations recognized by the AVMA’s American Board of Veterinary Specialties or similar specialty organizations recognized by other countries, diplomate status (eg, DACVS or DACVIM), although specialty (eg Large Animal) should not be included with the diplomate status. List a bachelor’s or associate’s degree only if it is the author’s only degree. Do not list other specialty board designations, certifications, or honorary degrees. Fellowship or membership designations (eg, MRCVS) and honorary degrees should not be listed. Credentials such as CVT, RVT, LVT, and RN may be listed alongside the author’s highest earned academic degree.
- List of professional affiliations of the authors at the time of case management.
- Name and email address of the corresponding author.
- Body of manuscript—Includes the following sections:
- History: Provides sufficient information regarding the specific clinical problem so that the readers could reasonably determine the best solution or next logical step. Signalment, medical history, physical examination findings, and laboratory test results should be provided as relevant to the case.
- The statement: Formulate differential diagnoses, then continue reading.
- Diagnosis: Describes any differential diagnoses, additional steps taken to determine the diagnosis or diagnoses, and rationale for the diagnoses made.
- Treatment and Outcome: Provides a brief (generally, ≤ 5 sentences) description of the clinical management and outcome of the case, including any relevant follow-up information.
- Discussion: Provides an adequate assessment of the problem and possible alternative solutions.
- Acknowledgments, Disclosures, and Funding
- Authors will be required to address these 3 statements during submission. This information does not need to be included in the manuscript document.
- Acknowledgment/s: Identify individuals who made important contributions to the study but who do not meet the criteria for authorship. If none, include the statement “None reported.”
- Disclosure/s:
- Include any conflicts of interest related to the manuscript. Include relevant financial interests (eg, ownership, employment, consultancies, honoraria, paid expert testimony, grants, patent-licensing arrangements, equity interests, and service as an officer or board member), activities, relationships, and affiliations (other than those listed on the title page of the manuscript). If none, include the statement “The authors have nothing to disclose.”
- Include the use of any artificial intelligence (AI)–assisted technology such as ChatGPT or another large language model in the writing of the manuscript or production of images. If none were used, include the statement “No AI-assisted technologies were used in the generation of this manuscript.” If an AI tool was used, the authors must be transparent in disclosing here, in the disclosures section, which AI tool was used, and how. AI tools cannot be listed as an author of a manuscript.
- Funding: Include all funding, other financial support, and material support obtained directly or indirectly from any third party in connection with information included in the manuscript or with the writing or publishing of the manuscript. If none, include the statement “The authors have nothing to disclose.”
- References: The references are formatted using the current American Medical Association Manual of Style. References are limited to ≤ 5. Primary references (eg, original studies) rather than secondary references (eg, textbooks and review articles) are preferred whenever possible. Please note that authors bear primary responsibility for the accuracy of all references.
Supplementary videos: Video material or animated sequences to support and enhance a manuscript. Video or animation files supplied will be published online only. Examples of content include orthopedic examinations; neurologic examinations; ophthalmic examinations; diagnostic imaging interpretation; narrated figures, graphs, and tables; and so forth. Supplementary videos may or may not include narration. For narrated videos, begin the video with a verbal statement of your name and the purpose of the video, disclose any conflicts of interest, and state any acknowledgments. Narration will be transcribed into a text file by the video-hosting platform using artificial intelligence and reviewed by AVMA Editors for accuracy. No action is required by the authors for this conversion.
Limits
- Minimum time length: 10 seconds.
- Maximum time length: 1 minute.
- Maximum file size: 300 MB.
Figures
- Minimum resolution of 300 dots per inch (dpi).
- Preferred file formats are .tif, .jpeg, or .png.
- Uploaded separately from manuscript file.
- See our detailed instructions on figures.
Manuscript submission
Manuscripts are submitted electronically at https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/avma.
- Enter the manuscript title from the title page.
- In the Abstract field, provide a brief (≤ 3 sentences) synopsis of the case (e.g., patient signalment and presenting complaints, key findings, and condition or disease diagnosed).
- We strongly encourage a cover letter containing the following information:
- Why is this study important? (2 or 3 sentences)
- What did you find? (2or 3 sentences)
- Why is this study of wide interest? (2 or 3 sentences)
- Is the manuscript for resident credentialling or promotion?
- Suggested 6-10 reviewers with their names and email addresses.
Keywords
You will be required to provide 5 keywords at submission. Keywords increase discoverability, ranking, and visibility in search engine results, and therefore increase readership and citation of a manuscript. Include 1 or 2 of your 5 keywords in the title, in the first 2 sentences of the abstract, and throughout the article where they can be worked in naturally and in context. Keywords also help us promote your manuscript.
