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Veterinary Abbreviations and Acronyms

-A- AAAP
1.  American Association of Avian Pathologists; 2.  Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies

AABP
American Association of Bovine Practitioners

AAEP
American Association of Equine Practitioners

AAHA
American Animal Hospital Association

AAFCO
American Association of Feed Control Officials

AASP
American Association of Swine Practitioners

AASRP
American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners

ab, Ab
Antibody

ABPE
Acute bovine pulmonary emphysema and edema

ABVP
American Board of Veterinary Practitioners

ac
[Latin] Ante cibum / cibos, before meals

ACD
Acid-citrate-dextrose

ACE
Angiotensin-converting enzyme

ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament

ACT
1.  American College of Theriogenologists; 2.  Activated coagulation time

ACTH
Adrenocorticotropic hormone

AD
Aleutian Disease

ADF
Acid detergent fiber

ADH
Antidiuretic hormone, vasopressin

ADP
Adenosine diphosphate

ad lib
[Latin] Ad libitum, as much as desired

AEMV
American Exotic Mammal Veterinarians

AFIP
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology

ag, Ag
1.  Antigen; 2.  Antigenemia

AGID
Agar gel immunodiffusion

AHS
African horse sickness

AHT
Animal health technician

AHV-1
Alcelaphine herpesvirus 1

AI
Artificial insemination

AIDS
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

AIHA
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia

AIPE
Asphyxia-induced pulmonary edema

ALD
Approximate lethal dose

ALP
Alkaline phosphatase

ALT
Alanine aminotransferase / alanine transaminase (see also GPT, SGPT)

AMB
Amphotericin B

ANA
Antinuclear antibodies

ANF
Atrial natriuretic factor

ant.
Anterior

AP
Anterior-posterior

APHIS
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (of USDA)

APPO
Assistance Program for Pet Owners

APR
Acute phase response

APTT
Activated partial thromboplastin time

APUD
Amine precursor uptake decarboxylase

ARD
Antibiotic-responsive diarrhea

ARD
Acute renal disease

ARP
American Registry of Pathology

ARPAS
American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists

ASF
African swine fever

ASPCA
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

AST
Aspartate transaminase (aspartate aminotransferase) / aspartic acid trasaminase (aspartic acid aminotransferase) (see also GOT, SGOT)

ATP
Adenosine triphosphate

AUC
Area under the curve

AV
1.  Atriventricular; 2.  Arteriovenous; 3.  Abomasal volvulus (see also RDA, RTA)

av
Average

AVECCT
Academy of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Technicians

AVMA
American Veterinary Medical Association

AZT
Azidothymidine (now called Zidovudine, ZDN), 3'-Azido-3'-deoxythymidine

-B-
BAER
Brain stem auditory evoked responses

BAL
1. previously used name for Dimercaprol (1,2-Dimercapto-3-propanol); 2.  bronchoalveolar lavage

BCG
Bacillus Calmette-Guérin

BD
Border disease

BER
Basal energy requirement

BFR
Benign foot rot

b.i.d.
[Latin] Bis in die, twice a day

BIV
Bovine immunodeficiency-like virus

BHC
Benzene hexachloride

BHV
Bovine herpesvirus

BLV
Bovine leukemia virus

BMD
Bone mineral density

bp, BP
Blood pressure

bpm
Beats per minute

BPDME
Bovine progressive degenerative myeloencephalopathy

BRD
Bovine respiratory disease

BRS
Brown recluse spider

BRSV
Bovine respiratory syncytial virus

BRT
Brucella milk ring test

BSE
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy

BSP
Bromsulfophthalein

BT
Bluetongue (virus)

BUN
Blood urea nitrogen

BVD(V)
Bovine viral diarrhea (virus)

BW
Body weight

Bx
Biopsy

-C-

C-1, C-2, C-3, ..., C-7
the cervical vertebrae

CA
Contagious agalactia

CAE(V)
Caprine arthritis and encephalitis (virus)

cAMP
Cyclic adenosine monophosphate

CAR
Congenital articular rigidity

CAT scan
Computerized axial tomography

CAV
Canine adenovirus

CAV
Chick anemia virus

CBC
Complete blood count

CBF
Cerebral blood flow

CCHF
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever

ccms
Clean catch, midstream

CCV
Canine coronavirus

CDC
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CDV
Canine distemper virus

CEAH
Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health

CEM
Contagious equine metritis

CF
1.  Chronicity factor; 2.  Complement fixation (test)

CFU
Colony forming units

CHF
Congestive heart failure

CHV
Canine herpesvirus

CL
Corpus luteum

CLA
Caseous lymphadenitis

CM
Castrated male

CMT
California mastitis test

CN1
Cranial nerve 1, olfactory nerve

CN2
Optic nerve

CN3
Occulomotor nerve

CN4
Trochlear nerve

CN5
Trigeminal nerve

CN6
Abducens nerve

CN7
Facial nerve

CN8
Vestibulocochlear nerve

CN9
Glossopharyngeal nerve

CN10
Vagus nerve

CN11
Accessory nerve

CN12
Hypoglossal nerve

CNS
Central nervous system

COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (heaves)

CP
conscious proprioception

CPD
Citrate-phosphate-dextrose

CPD-A
Citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine

CPK
Creatinine phosphokinase

CPR
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CPRA
Central progressive retinal atrophy

CPV
Canine parvovirus

CRD
Chronic respiratory disease

CRD
Chronic renal disease

CRG
Controlled-release glasses

crit
Hematocrit

CRTZ
Chemoreceptor trigger zone

CRWAD
Conference of Research Workers in Animal Disease

CSF
Cerebrospinal fluid

CSM
Cottonseed meal

CT
1. Calcitonin, thyrocalcitonin; 2.  computerized tomography

CTC
Chlortetracycline

CVP
Central venous pressure

CVT
Certified Veterinary Technician

-D-

DEA
Drug Enforcement Administration

DEC
Diethylcarbamazine (N,N-diethyl-4-methyl-1-piperazinecarboxamide)

DES
Diethylstilbestrol

DFA
Diffuse fibrosing alveolitis

DHIA
Dairy Herd Improvement Association

DHIR
Dairy Herd Improvement Registry

DHLP-P
Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus (vaccine)

DHV
Duck hepatitis virus

DI
Diabetes insipidus

DIC
Disseminated intravascular coagulation

DIP
Distal interphalangeal joint [in horses]

DJD
Degenerative joint disease

DLE
Discoid lupus erythematosus

DM
1. Deciduous molar(s); 2.  Diabetes mellitus; 3.  diastolic murmur; 4.   dry mass; 5.  dry matter; et alia

DMNA
Dimethylnitrosamine

DMOAD, DMOADs
Disease-modifying osteoarthritis drug(s)

DMSO
Dimethyl sulfoxide

DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid

DOCA
Desoxycorticosterone acetate

DOCP
Desoxycorticosterone pivalate

DSS
Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate

DTM
Dermatophyte Test Medium

DV
Dorsal-ventral

DVM
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Dx
Diagnosis

-E-

EBA
Epizootic bovine abortion

EBV
Epstein-Barr virus

ECF
Extracellular fluid

ECG, EKG
Electrocardiogram

eCG
Equine chorionic gonadotropin

E. coli
Escherichia coli ECP
Estradiol cypionate

ED
Elbow dysplasia [e.g. in dogs]

EDDI
Ethylenediamine dihydroiodide

EDP
Edema disease principle

EDS
Egg drop syndrome

EE
Equine encephalomyelitis

EEE
Eastern equine encephalomyelitis

EEG
Electroencephalogram

EF
Ejection fraction

EFA
Essential fatty acids

EHD
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease

EHV
Equine herpesvirus

EKG 
see ECG EIA
1.  Enzyme immunoassays; 2.  equine infectious anemia

EIAV
Equine infectious anemia virus (a lentivirus)

EIPH
Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage

ELF
Enzyme-labeled fluorescence

ELISA
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

EM
Electron microscopy

EMC
Encephalomyocarditis

EMG
Electromyography

EP
Enzootic pneumonia

EPA
Environmental Protection Agency

EPG
Eggs per gram (of feces)

EPI
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency

EPM
Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis

EPO
Erythropoietin

Top
-F-

FA
1.  Fatty acid(s); 2.  Flourescent antibody

FAD
Flea allergy dermatitis

FARAD
Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank

FCP
Fragmentation of the coronoid process, fragmented coronoid process

FCV
Feline calicivirus

FDA
Food and Drug Administration

FDP
Fibrin degradation products

FeBb
Feline Bordetella bronchiseptica

FECV
Feline enteric coronavirus

FeLLC
Feline lymphosarcoma-leukemia complex

FeLV
Feline leukemia virus

FFA
Free fatty acids

FHD
Feline heartworm disease

FHV
1.  Feline herpesvirus; 2.  Flock House virus

FIA
Feline infectious anemia

FIP
Feline infectious peritonitis

FIV
Feline immunodeficiency virus

fLUTD


Feline lower urinary tract disease

FMD
Foot-and-mouth disease

FMDV
Foot-and-mouth disease virus (Aphthovirus)

FNA
Fine-needle aspiration

FOCMA
Feline oncornavirus-associated cell membrane antigen

FORL
Feline odontoclastic resorptive lesion(s)

FRV
1.  Feline rhinotracheitis virus; 2.  feline rotavirus(es)

FSH
Follicle-stimulating hormone

FSV
Feline sarcoma virus

FUD
Fever of undetremined origin

FUS
Feline urological syndrome

fx
Fracture

FVRCP
Feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia [vaccine]

-G-

GABA
Gamma-aminobutyric acid

GALT
Gut-associated lymphoid tissue

GDU
Gastroduodenal ulceration

GDV
Gastric dilitation-volvulus

GES
Group E streptococcus

GFR
Glomerular filtration rate

GH
Growth hormone

GHRH
Growth hormone-releasing hormone

GI
Gastrointestinal

GME
Granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis

Gn-RH
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone

GOT
Glutamic-oxaloacetic (glutamate-oxaloacetate) transaminase / aspartate aminotransferase (see also AST, SGOT)

GPT 
Glutamate-pyruvate (glutamic-pyruvic) transaminase / alanine aminotransferase (see also ALT, SGPT)

GRAS
Generally regarded as safe

GVH
Goose viral hepatitis

G6PD
Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase

-H-

H&E
Hematoxylin and eosin (stain)

HA
1.  Hemagglutinin; 2.  hemagglutination; 3.  Hypertensive angiopathy

HACCP
Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points

Hb, Hgb
Hemoglobin

HBC
Hit by car

HCG
Human chorionic gonadotropin

HCH
Halogenated cyclic hydrocarbons

Hct
Hematocrit

HD
Hepatosis dietetica

HD
Hip dysplasia

HEV
Hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus

Hgb
  see Hb HGE
Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis

HHM
Humoral Hypercalcemia of malignancy

HI
Hemagglutination-inhibition

HMP
Hexose monophosphate shunt

HOD
Hypertrophic osteodystrophy

HPA
Hypophyseal-pituitary axis

HPF
High-power field

Hpg
Haemophilus paragallinarum

HS
Hemorrhagic septicemia

HSL
Hypertonic saline

HUS
Hemolytic uremic syndrome

hypp
Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis

-I-

IAADP
International Association of Assistance Dog Partners

IACUC
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

IBD
1.  Infectious bursal disease; 2.  inflammatory bowel disease

IBH
Inclusion body hepatitis

IBR
1.  Inclusion body rhinitis; 2.  infectious bovine rhinotracheitis

IC
1.  Infectious coryza; 2.  intracardiac

ICF
Intracellular fluid

ICH
Infectious canine hepatitis

ID
Intradermal

IDDM
Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

IDST
Intradermal skin testing

IFA
Indirect fluorescent antibody

IFN
Interferon

Ig
Immunoglobulin

IGR
Insect growth regulators

IHA
Indirect hemagglutination

iLUTD
Idiopathic lower urinary tract disease

IM
Intramuscular

IN
Intranasal

inf.
1.  Infection; 2.  inferior

INH
Infectious necrotic hepatitis

IP
Intraperitoneal

IPN
Infectious pancreatic necrosis

IPV
Infectious pustular vulvovaginitis

isom(s)
or ISCOM(s) Immunostimulating complex(es)

IV
Intravenous

IVD
Intervertebral disc

IVP
Intravenous pyelogram, intravenous pyelography

IVSA
International Veterinary Students¹ Association

-J-

JAAHA
Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association

JAVMA
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association

-K-

KBH
Kicked by horse

KCS
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca

KPMG L.L.P.
Name of the consulting firm which produced the report "The Current and Future Market for Veterinarians and Veterinary Medical Services in the United States", commonly referred to as the KPMG study or KPMG report. (See King. L. J. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times": a perspective on the KPMG study. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 217(7):996-998.)

KTZ
Keratonazole

kVp
Kilovolt peak

-L-

LA
Large animal

LCM
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis

LD
Lethal dose

LDA
Left displacement of abomasum

LE
Lupus erythematosus

LH
Luteinizing hormone

LMN
Lower motor neurons

LPE
Lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis

LPF
Low-power field(s)

LPS
Lipopolysaccharide

LRS
Lactated Ringer's solution

LVT
Licensed veterinary technician

Top
-M-

mA
Milliamperes

MAC
Minimal antibiotic concentration

MALT
Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue

MAOI
Monoamine oxidase inhibitor(s)

MAP
Mouse antibody production

MBC
Minimal bactericidal concentration

MCF
Malignant catarrhal fever

MCH
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin

MCHC
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration

MCP
Metacarpophalangeal joint [in horses]

MCT
1.  Market cattle testing; 2.  Mast cell tumor(s)

MCV
1.  Mean cell volume; 2.  Mean corpuscular volume

ME
Metabolizable energy

MEC
Minimal effective plasma concentration

MED
Median effective dose (ED50)

MG
Monoglycerides

MH
Malignant hyperthermia

MHA
Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia

MHD
Mulberry heart disease

MHV
Mouse hepatitis virus

Mhz
Megahertz

MIC
Minimal inhibitory concentration

MI
3-methylindole

MLV
Modified live virus

MMA
Mastitis-metritis-agalactia complex

MNTD
Maximum nontoxic dose

MOET
Multiple ovulation and embryo transfer

mOsm
Milliosmol(s)

MRCVS
Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging

mRNA
Messenger ribonucleic acid

MSD
Marble spleen disease

MSH
Melanocyte-stimulating hormone

MTC
Maximum tolerated plasma concentration

MTD
Median toxic dose (TD50)

MTD
Maximum tolerated dose

-N-

NADH
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide

NADPH
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate

NAF
No abnormal findings

NAHMS
National Animal Health Monitoring Systems (of USDA)

NASPHV
National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians

NAVLE
North American Veterinary Licensing Examination

NAVTA
North American Veterinary Technician Association

NBEC
National Board Examination Committee for Veterinary Medicine

NCPPSP
National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy

NCV
Nerve conduction velocities

ND
Newcastle disease

NDF
Neutral detergent fiber

NECL
Nonepitheliotropic cutaneous lymphosarcomas

NFM
Northern fowl mite

NMB
New Methylene Blue

NMD
Nutritional muscular dystrophy

NMS
Neonatal maladjustment syndrome

NPN
Nonprotein nitrogen

NPO
[Latin] Nil per os, nothing by mouth

nRBC
Nucleated red blood cells

NRC
National Research Council

NSAID,
NSAIDs Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

-O-

OA
Osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease

OCD
Osteochondritis dissecans

O.D.
[Latin] Oculus dexter, right eye

ODE
Old-dog encephalitis

OFA
Orthopedic Foundation for Animals

OID
Ovine interdigital dermatitis

OP
Organophosphates

OR
Operating room

os, ossa
[Latin] Bone O.S.
[Latin] Oculus sinister, left eye

-P-

P-A
Posterior-anterior

PABA
Para-aminobenzoic acid

PAD
Pododermatitis aseptica diffusa

PAF
Platelet activating factor

PBB
Polybrominated biphenyls

PBFD
Psittacine beak and feather disease

pc
[Latin] Post cibum / cibos, after meals

PCB
Polychlorinated biphenyls

PCV
Packed cell volume

PDA
Patent ductus arteriosus

PDE
Phosphodiesterases

PE
Physical examination

PED
Porcine epidemic diarrhea

PEDV
Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus

PEM
Polioencephalomalacia

PF
Platelet Factor

PG, PGs
1.  Prostaglandin; 2.  proteoglycan(s)

PHS
Pulmonary hypertension syndrome

PI-3
Parainfluenza-3 virus

PIE syndrome
Pulmonary infiltration with eosinophilia

PKD
Proliferative kidney disease

PLH
Pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia

Plt
Platelet(s) PMN
Polymorphonuclear leukocytes

PMSG
Pregnant mare serum gonadotropin

PNS
Peripheral nervous system

PNU
Protein nitrogen units

PO
[Latin] Per os, orally

post.
Posterior

POVMR
Problem-oriented veterinary medical record

PPLO
Pleuropneumonia-like organism

PPN
Partial parenteral nutrition

PPR
Peste des petits ruminants

pr
Per rectum

PRA
Progressive retinal atrophy

PRDC
Porcine respiratory disease complex

PRN, p.r.n.
[Latin] Pro re nata, as occasion arises (as needed)

PRRS
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome

PRV
Pseudorabies virus

PSE
Pale soft exudative pork

PSGAG
Polysulfated glycosaminoglycan

PSS
1. Physiologic saline solution; 2.  porcine stress syndrome

PT
Prothrombin time

PTH
Parathormone, parathyroid hormone

PTHrP
PTH-related proteins

PTS
Put to sleep pulv
Pulverized, powder

Px
Physical examination

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-Q- q., qq.
[Latin] Quaque, every, each (e.g. q.d. quaque die, every day; qh quaque hora, every hour; q4h every four hours; etc.)

q.i.d.
[Latin] Quater in die, four times daily

ql
[Latin] Quantum libet, as much as desired

QNS
Quantity not sufficient

qod
every other day (see q.)

QOL
Quality of life

qs
[Latin] Quantum sufficiat, as much as is sufficient

qv
[Latin] Quantum vis, as much as you please

-R-

R, r
Roentgen [international unit of measurement of x- or g-rays]

RA
Rheumatoid arthritis

RANA
Registered Animal Nursing Auxiliary

RAST
Radioallergosorbent test

RBC
Red blood cells

RDA
Right displacement of the abomasum (see also AV 3.)

REM
Rapid eye movement

RER
Resting energing requirement

RES
Reticuloendothelial system

REV
Reticuloendotheliosis virus

RMSF
Rocky Mountain spotted fever

RNA
Ribonucleic acid

RSAT
Rapid slide agglutination test

RTA
Right torsion of the abomasum (see also AV 3.)

RTF
Resistance transfer factor

RV
Rabies vaccine

RVF
1.  Rift Valley fever; 2.  Right ventricular failure

RVVT
Russell's viper venom time 

Rx
[Latin] recipe, take, receive (used to indicate a prescription or treatment)

-S-

SA
1.  Sinoatrial; 2.  Small animal

SAIDS
Simian acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

SAMS
Sow abortion and mortality syndrome

SAP
Serum alkaline phosphatase

SARA
Subacute ruminal acidosis

SBE
Sporadic bovine encephalomyelitis

SC
Subcutaneous(ly)

SCUD
Septicemic cutaneous ulcerative disease

SDA
Sialodacryoadenitis

SDH
Sorbitol dehydrogenase

SDF
Synchronous diaphragmatic flutter, "thumps"

SF
Spayed female

SFT
Society for Theriogenology

SG
Specific gravity

SGOT
Serum glutamic-oxaloacetic (glutamate-oxaloacetate) transaminase / aspartate aminotransferase (see also AST, GOT)

sGPT, SGPT
Serum glutamate-pyruvate (glutamic-pyruvic) transaminase / alanine aminotransferase (see also ALT, GPT)

SHS
Swollen head syndrome

SI
1.  Safety index; 2.  superior-inferior

SIBO
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth

SIRS
Systemic inflammatory response syndrome

SIV
1.  Simian immunodeficiency virus; 2.  swine influenza virus

SLE
Systemic lupus erythematosus

SLS
Streptococcal lymphadenitis

SMSV
San Miguel sea lion virus

SMZ
Sulfamethazine

SPD
Salmon poisoning disease

SPF
Specific pathogen free

sp / spp
Species (singular) / species (plural)

SSRI, SSRIs
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor(s)

subcut.
Subcutaneous(ly) (see also Sub-Q)

Sub-Q
Subcutaneous(ly) (see also subcut.)

sup.
Superior

SVD
Swine vesicular disease

sx
Surgery

-T-

TAT
Tetanus antitoxin

TB
Tuberculosis

TBF
Tick-borne fever

TCP
Tropical canine pancytopenia

TDN
Total digestable nutrients

TEME
Thromboembolic meningoencephalitis

TGC
Tender gentle care

TGE
Transmissible gastroenteritis

t.i.d.
[Latin] Ter in die, three times a day

TLC
Tender loving care

TLI
Trypsin-like immunoreactivity

TME
Transmissible mink encephalopathy

TMJ
Temporomandibular joint

TMS
Trace mineral salt

TNF
Tumor necrosis factor

TNTC
Too numerous to count

TPN
Total parenteral nutrition

TOX, TOXO, Toxo
1.  Toxoplasma; 2.  Toxoplasmosis

TRH
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone

TRTVs
Turkey rhinotracheitis viruses

TSH
Thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyrotropin

TT
1.  Tetanus toxoid; 2.  thrombin time

TTW
Transtracheal washes or washing

T3
Triiodothyronine

T4
Thyroxine

-U-

UAP
Ununited anconeal process

UD
Ulcerative dermatosis

UIP
Undegraded intake protein

UMCP
Ununited medial coronoid process

UMHE
Ununited medial humeral epicondyle

UMN
Upper motor neurons

USP
United States Pharmacopeia

UTI
Urinary tract infection

-V-

VD
Ventral-dorsal

VEE
Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis

VEN,PEN
Viral erythrocytic necrosis

VES(V)
Vesicular exanthema of swine (virus)

VFA
Volatile fatty acids

VFD
Veterinary feed directive

VFR
Virulent foot rot

VHD
Viral hemorrhagic disease

VMD
Veterinary medical doctor

VN
Virus neutralization

VS
Vesicular stomatitis

VT
Veterinary technician

VVND
Viscerotropic velogenic Newcastle disease

VWD
Vomiting and wasting disease

VWF
Von Willebrand's factor

-W-

WB
Western blot [test]

WBC
White blood cells

WEE
Western equine encephalomyelitis

WHO
World Health Organization

WMD
White muscle disease

WMT
Wisconsin mastitis test

WVA
World Veterinary Association

WVPA
World Veterinary Poultry Association


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