Editorial: Go with the vet-flow! The current uses and new frontiers of flow cytometry in veterinary sciences, volume II

Publications in veterinary journals employing flow cytometry have increased markedly over the past 9 six years, reflecting the growing integration of this technology into veterinary research and 10 diagnostics. In 2024, we launched the Research Topic "Go with the vet-flow! The current uses and 11 new frontiers of flow cytometry in veterinary sciences" with the aim of providing an overview of 12 current applications and, for the first time, creating a dedicated space within the journal for 13 colleagues working in this rapidly evolving field. The initiative was very well received and resulted 14 in the publication of 12 articles spanning a wide range of animal species, biological samples, and 15 analytical targets. Given the continued expansion of flow cytometry and its methodological 16 innovation, and recognizing that a single volume could not provide an exhaustive overview, we 17 renewed the initiative with a second volume. 18This second volume comprises six additional contributions that further illustrate the breadth and 19 maturity of flow cytometry applications in veterinary medicine, predominantly in a clinical context. 20The articles range from the development and validation of analytical strategies to the characterization 21 of reference populations in healthy and diseased animals, and the identification of novel cell 22 populations and biomarkers. Collectively, these studies provide a robust foundation for more refined 23 phenotypic characterization and for the future assessment of prognostic relevance in prospective 24 clinical investigations. 25 Five of the six articles focus on dogs or cats, and three address oncological conditions.