Abbreviations
AJVR and JAVMA Abbreviations and Technical Terms
Overuse of abbreviations can make text confusing, ambiguous, and frustrating to read. Therefore, we encourage authors to limit abbreviations to those included in the journal’s list of standard abbreviations that should be used without expansion and to standard units of measure, divisions of time, and commonly used routes of administration.
Other abbreviations are acceptable when a long, cumbersome, or awkward word or phrase is used. However, even in these instances, a term should generally be abbreviated in each of the 4 parts of a manuscript (abstract, main text, figures, and tables) only when the abbreviation is used at least 3 times in that part of the manuscript.
- For abbreviations other than those included in the journal’s list of standard abbreviations, standard units of measure, divisions of time, and commonly used routes of administration, the term must be expanded at first mention, with the abbreviation given in parentheses after the expanded term, in each of the 4 parts of the manuscript in which it appears. The abbreviation is then used without expansion throughout the remainder of that part.
- All abbreviations should be derived directly from the word or words that make up the expanded term.
- In addition, to assist authors and readers, we have compiled examples of preferred terminology and abbreviations for technical terms specifically related to the following:
Abbreviations are allowed for figures and tables.
- Abbreviations in figures should be defined in the legend of the first figure in which they appear.
- Abbreviations in tables should be defined in the legend or footnotes of the first table in which they appear.
- A division of time appearing in a table column heading or as a figure axis should be spelled out unless the division is in parentheses.
Except for the abbreviations ELISA, ACTH, EDTA, DNA, and RNA, abbreviations should generally not be used in titles.
Standard abbreviations that should be used without expansion
The following is a list of abbreviations that should be used without expansion in the abstract, main text, figures, and tables.
| 2-D | 2-dimensional or 2 dimensions |
| 3-D | 3-dimensional or 3 dimensions |
| ACTH | Adrenocorticotropic hormone |
| ADP | Adenosine diphosphate |
| ADPase | Adenosine diphosphatase |
| AI | Artificial intelligence |
| ALP | Alkaline phosphatase |
| ALT | Alanine aminotransferase or alanine transaminase |
| AJVR | American Journal of Veterinary Research |
| AMDUCA | Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act |
| ANCOVA | Analysis of covariance |
| ANOVA | Analysis of variance |
| APHIS | Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service |
| approx | Approximately (use only in parenthetical expressions) |
| AST | Aspartate aminotransferase or aspartate transaminase |
| ATCC | American Type Culture Collection |
| ATP | Adenosine triphosphate |
| ATPase | Adenosine triphosphatase |
| AVMA | American Veterinary Medical Association |
| BCG | Bacille Calmette-Guerin |
| bp | Base pairs (use only when accompanied by a number) |
| BUN | Blood urea nitrogen |
| cAMP | Cyclic adenosine monophosphate |
| CBC | Complete blood count |
| CD | Clusters of differentiation (use only with a number, such as CD3 or CD79a) |
| CDC | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| cDNA | Complementary deoxyribonucleic acid |
| CFU | Colony-forming unit |
| CI | Confidence interval |
| CNS | Central nervous system |
| CPR | Cardiopulmonary resuscitation |
| CSF | Cerebrospinal fluid |
| cRNA | Complementary RNA |
| CT | Computed tomography or computed tomographic |
| D-dimer | Dimerized plasmin fragment D |
| DICOM | Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine |
| DMSO | Dimethyl sulfoxide |
| DNA | Deoxyribonucleic acid |
| dNTP | Deoxyribonucleotide triphosphate |
| ECG | Electrocardiogram or electrocardiographic |
| EDTA | Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid |
| eg | Latin for “for example” (use only in parenthetical expressions) |
| ELISA | Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay |
| FDA | Food and Drug Administration |
| FeLV | Feline leukemia virus |
| FGF | Fibroblast growth factor (use only with a number, such as FGF-19 or FGF-23) |
| FIP | Feline infectious peritonitis |
| FIV | Feline immunodeficiency virus |
| FLAIR | Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery |
| GABA | γ-aminobutyric acid |
| GFR | Glomerular filtration rate |
| GGT | γ-glutamyltransferase |
| H&E | Hematoxylin and eosin |
| Hct | Hematocrit |
| HEPES | N-2-Hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid |
| HIV | Human immunodeficiency virus |
| hpf | High-power field or high-power fields |
| HPLC-MS-MS | High-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry |
| HU | Hounsfield unit or Hounsfield units |
| IACUC | Institutional animal care and use committee |
| ICU | Intensive care unit |
| ie | Latin for "that is" (use only in parenthetical expressions) |
| IGF | Insulin-like growth factor (use only with a number, such as IGF-1) |
| IL | Interleukin (use only with an alphanumeric descriptor, such as IL-1β or IL-4) |
| IQR | Interquartile (25th to 75th percentile) range |
| JAVMA | Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association |
| kVp | Kilovolt peak |
| LD50 | Median lethal dose |
| LDH | Lactate dehydrogenase |
| MAC | Minimum alveolar concentration |
| MCH | Mean corpuscular hemoglobin |
| MCHC | Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration |
| MCV | Mean corpuscular volume |
| MeSH | Medical Subject Headings of the US National Library of Medicine |
| MIC | Minimal inhibitory concentration |
| MRI | Magnetic resonance imaging (Although this abbreviation can be an adjective or a noun, it cannot be used to mean magnetic resonance image. The term MRI image is acceptable. No expansion needed.) |
| mRNA | Messenger ribonucleic acid |
| m/z | Mass-to-charge ratio |
| NAD | Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide |
| NADH | Reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide |
| NADP | Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate |
| NADPH | Reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate |
| Nd:YAG | Neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet [laser] |
| NIH | National Institutes of Health |
| NSAID | Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug |
| OR | Odds ratio |
| PAGE | Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis |
| PBS | Phosphate-buffered saline |
| PCR | Polymerase chain reaction |
| PCV | Packed cell volume |
| PDGF | Platelet-derived growth factor |
| PET-CT | Positron emission tomography and computed tomography |
| ppb | Parts per billion |
| ppm | Parts per million |
| ppt | Parts per trillion |
| RBC | Red blood cell |
| RNA | Ribonucleic acid |
| RPMI | Roswell Park Memorial Institute |
| rRNA | Ribosomal ribonucleic acid |
| SARS-CoV-2 | Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 |
| SD | Standard deviation |
| SDS | Sodium dodecyl sulfate |
| SE | Standard error |
| SEM | Standard error of the mean |
| SI | Système Internationale |
| STIR | Short tau inversion recovery |
| SUN | Serum urea nitrogen |
| T3 | Triiodothyronine |
| T4 | Thyroxine |
| TCID50 | Median tissue culture infective dose |
| TGF | Transforming growth factor (use only with the appropriate descriptor, such as TGF-β1) |
| tRNA | Transfer ribonucleic acid |
| UPLC-MS-MS | Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry |
| US | United States |
| USDA | United States Department of Agriculture |
| USP | United States Pharmacopeia |
| UV | Ultraviolet |
| VEGF | Vascular endothelial growth factor |
| WBC | White blood cell |
| WHO | World Health Organization |
Divisions of time
Use the following abbreviations for divisions of time in virgule constructions, figures, and tables:
| Millisecond | ms |
| Second | s |
| Minute | min |
| Hour | h |
| Day | d |
| Week | wk |
| Month | mo |
| Year | y |
Routes of administration
The following commonly used administration routes should be abbreviated on first mention:
| IA | Intra-articular |
| ID | Intradermal |
| IM | Intramuscular |
| IP | Intraperitoneal |
| IV | Intravenous |
| PO | Per os |
| SC | Subcutaneous |
Technical terms
Many specialized fields have their own terms and abbreviations that are commonly used in the field but not well-known to readers outside that field. Authors should consider whether abbreviating those terms might be confusing for readers and whether using the expanded term, rather than the abbreviation, might improve understandability. In addition, in certain fields, abbreviations may not have been standardized for certain terms. This is especially true in the fields of pharmacology, respiratory physiology, and radiology. The following lists are provided to help standardize abbreviations in these fields.
Preferred pharmacologic and pharmacokinetics terminology
The following list provides many of the commonly used pharmacologic and pharmacokinetic terms, although it is not meant to be complete. These terms must be expanded on first mention, with the abbreviation given afterward in parentheses.
| α | Alpha; Rate constant for the distribution portion of the plasma concentration-versus-time curve, as in: C(t) = A•e–α•t + B•e–β•t (typically reported as h–1) |
| β | Beta; Rate constant for the elimination portion of the plasma concentration-versus-time curve, as in: C(t) = A•e–α•t + B•e–β•t (typically reported as h–1) |
| λz | Terminal rate constant or terminal slope of the concentration-versus-time curve (typically reported as h–1) |
| AUC | Area under the concentration-versus-time curve (typically reported as μg•h/mL) |
| AUC0–last | Area under the concentration-versus-time curve from time 0 to the last measured concentration (typically reported as μg•h/mL) |
| AUC0–∞ | Area under the concentration-versus-time curve from time 0 to infinity (typically reported as μg•h/mL) |
| AUMC | Area under the first moment curve (typically reported as μg•h2/mL) |
| Cl | Clearance or systemic clearance (typically reported as μg•h2/mL) |
| Cl/F | Clearance corrected for bioavailability (typically reported as μg•h2/mL) |
| C | Concentration (typically reported as μg/mL) |
| C0 | Concentration at time 0; Used for an IV dose (typically reported as μg/mL) |
| Cmax | Maximum observed concentration, maximum serum concentration, maximum plasma concentration, or peak concentration (typically reported as μg/mL) |
| Cmin | Minimum observed concentration, minimum serum concentration, or minimum plasma concentration (typically reported as μg/mL) |
| Css | Concentration at steady state, plasma concentration at steady state, or serum concentration at steady state (typically reported as μg/mL) |
| F | Bioavailability (no units [expressed as a fraction] or % [F X 100]) |
| k | Rate constant (typically reported as h–1) |
| k01 | Rate constant for absorption into the central compartment; used for non-IV dose (typically reported as h–1) |
| k10 | Rate constant for drug elimination from the central compartment (typically reported as h–1) |
| k12 | Rate constant for drug movement from the central to the peripheral compartment or rate constant for drug movement from compartment 1 to compartment 2 (typically reported as h–1) |
| k21 | Rate constant for drug movement from the peripheral to the central compartment or rate constant for drug movement from compartment 2 to compartment 1 (typically reported as h–1) |
| ke or kel | Elimination rate constant (typically reported as h–1) |
| ka or kabs | Absorption rate constant; used for a non-IV dose (typically reported as h–1) |
| MIC | Minimum inhibitory concentration (typically reported as μg/mL) |
| MIC50 | Minimum inhibitory concentration for 50% of isolates (typically reported as μg/mL) |
| MIC90 | Minimum inhibitory concentration for 90% of isolates (typically reported as μg/mL) |
| MRT | Mean residence time (typically reported as μg/mL) and can include a subscript to indicate the data used for calculations (eg, MRT0–obs) |
| t1/2 | Half-life or apparent elimination half-life (typically reported as min) |
| t1/2α | Distribution half-life; corresponds to ln2/α (typically reported as min) |
| t1/2β | Elimination half-life; corresponds to ln2/β (typically reported as min) |
| t1/2λ | Terminal half-life; corresponds to ln2/λ (typically reported as min) |
| t1/2 kel or t1/2 ke | Half-life for drug elimination (typically reported as min) |
| t1/2 ka or t1/2 kabs | Half-life for drug absorption; used for a non-IV dose (typically reported as min) |
| tlag | Time delay between drug administration and first observed concentration or lag time (typically reported as min) |
| tmax | Time to maximum concentration (typically reported as min) |
| VdC | Volume of distribution of the central compartment; 9sed for an IV dose; equivalent to V1 (typically reported as L/kg) |
| Vd | Volume of distribution (L typically reported as /kg) |
| Vdarea | Volume of distribution calculated using the AUC method; used for an IV dose; equivalent to VZ (typically reported as L/kg) |
| Vd/F | Volume of distribution corrected for bioavailability or volume of distribution per fraction absorbed (typically reported as L/kg) |
| Vdss | Volume of distribution at steady state; used for an IV dose (typically reported as L/kg) |
| Vdss/F | Volume of distribution at steady state corrected for bioavailability or volume of distribution at steady state per fraction absorbed (typically reported as L/kg) |
For C and related parameters, the text should indicate the sample type for which concentrations were evaluated (concentrations may not always be measured in serum or plasma).
The variable that the rate constant k pertains to should also be mentioned in the text.
Typical reporting units are provided. However, units that are equivalent when conversions are applied are also acceptable (eg, L/kg/h or mL/kg/min for Cl or Cl/F; ng/mL or mg/L for C and related parameters; min–1 for k and related parameters; h for t and t1/2 related parameters; mg/L for MIC data; mL/kg for Vd and related parameters). Units of mL/kg/h are equivalent to mL•h–1•kg–1; the former term is preferred because of its simplicity.
Preferred pulmonary and respiratory terminology
For terms in the field of pulmonary and respiratory physiology, the AVMA journals follow the guidelines given in the 11th edition of the AMA Manual of Style (amamanualofstyle.com). The following list provides many of the most commonly used terms we see in manuscripts in this field. Unless otherwise indicated, these terms must be expanded on first mention, with the abbreviation given afterward in parentheses.
| CaO2 | Arterial oxygen concentration or content |
| Cc′O2 | Pulmonary end-capillary oxygen concentration |
| CvO2 | Mixed venous oxygen content |
| DLCO | Diffusing capacity of lung for carbon monoxide |
| FEO2 | Fraction of expired oxygen |
| FIO2 | Fraction of inspired oxygen |
| HbCO | Carboxyhemoglobin |
| HbO2 | Oxyhemoglobin |
| PaCO2 | Arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (no expansion needed) |
| PACO2 | Alveolar partial pressure of carbon dioxide |
| PaO2 | Arterial partial pressure of oxygen (no expansion needed) |
| PAO2 | Alveolar partial pressure of oxygen |
| PAO2-PaO2 | Alveolar-arterial difference in partial pressure of oxygen |
| PB | Barometric pressure |
| PCO2 | Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (no expansion needed) |
| PEEP | Positive end-expiratory pressure |
| PEmax | Maximum expiratory pressure |
| PETCO2 | End-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide |
| pHa | pH of arterial blood |
| pHv̄ | pH of central (mixed) venous blood |
| PImax | Maximum inspiratory pressure |
| PO2 | Partial pressure of oxygen (no expansion needed) |
| Pv̄CO2 | Mixed venous partial pressure of carbon dioxide |
| Pv̄O2 | Mixed venous partial pressure of oxygen |
| SaO2 | Arterial oxygen saturation of hemoglobin |
| SpO2 | Peripheral oxygen saturation of hemoglobin as measured by pulse oximetry |
| Sv̄O2 | Mixed venous oxygen saturation of hemoglobin |
| VDS | Volume dead space |
| V̇E | Expired minute ventilation |
| V̇O2 | Oxygen consumption per unit time |
| V̇O2max | Maximum oxygen consumption |
| V̇/Q̇ | Ventilation-perfusion ratio |
| VSD | Ventricular septal defect |
| VT | Tidal volume |
Preferred terminology for naming of radiographic projections
For radiographic projections, the AVMA journals follow the naming convention described by Smallwood et al (Smallwood JE, Shively MJ, Rendano VT, Habel RE. A standardized nomenclature for radiographic projections used in veterinary medicine. Vet Radiol. 1985;26[1]:2–9. doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-8261.1985.tb01105.x).
The following list provides examples of the names for various radiographic projections. These terms must be expanded on first mention, with the abbreviation given afterward in parentheses.
| DL-PaMO | Dorsolateral–palmaromedial oblique |
| DL-PlMO | Dorsolateral–plantaromedial oblique |
| DPa | Dorsopalmar |
| DPl | Dorsoplantar |
| DPrL-PaDiMO | Dorsoproximolateral–palmarodistomedial oblique |
| LeD-RtVO | Left dorsal–right ventral oblique |
| LeR-RtCdO | Left rostral–right caudal oblique |
| RD-CdVO | Rostrodorsal-caudoventral oblique |
| RtD-LeVO | Right dorsal–left ventral oblique |
| RtR-LeCdO | Right rostral–left caudal oblique |
| RV-CdDO | Rostroventral–caudodorsal oblique |
