Veterinary Forensic Pathology: New Directions in Post-Mortem Interval and Animal Remains Identification

Veterinary thanatology and clinicopathology together form a vital and evolving interface within veterinary science, linking the processes of life and death. This integrated perspective deepens understanding of how ante mortem clinical conditions influence post mortem changes, contributing meaningfully to diagnostic precision, forensic reliability, and species specific knowledge. Although accurate post mortem interval (PMI) estimation and identification of animal remains underpin critical applications in veterinary forensics, wildlife conservation, agricultural incidents, and disaster response, the field has largely relied on adaptations from human forensic methodologies. Such dependencies have led to inconsistencies in accuracy across animal taxa, given the diversity in physiology, metabolism, and environmental exposure. Recent findings point to considerable discrepancies in the decomposition timeline and post mortem tissue markers across species. Alongside these challenges, growing evidence from advanced clinical diagnostics, molecular pathology, and imaging has highlighted the potential of ante mortem data to refine post mortem interpretation — an opportunity that remains underexplored. Establishing firm clinicopathological correlations can therefore revolutionize both forensic and diagnostic frameworks in veterinary medicine.This Research Topic aims to advance a holistic approach that unites veterinary thanatology and clinicopathology to enhance the accuracy, reproducibility, and interpretive depth of post mortem analyses. The goal is to develop standardized strategies for integrating ante mortem clinical data with pathological, molecular, and imaging based findings to support forensic identification, PMI estimation, and diagnostic understanding. It seeks to address pivotal questions: How do specific ante mortem lesions, metabolic states, or therapeutic interventions shape post mortem appearances? Can molecular or imaging biomarkers distinguish between pathological changes occurring before death versus after? What novel frameworks can trace the continuum from disease to death across varied species? By bridging the clinical–forensic gap, this topic encourages the validation of new methodologies capable of harmonizing diagnostic, environmental, and investigative datasets.The boundaries of this Research Topic encompass investigations that integrate clinicopathological and thanatological evidence for animals, emphasizing interspecies diversity, diagnostic correlation, and environmental influences, but excluding studies limited exclusively to human forensics. To gather further insights into the continuum between ante mortem and post mortem veterinary science, we welcome contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Correlations between ante mortem clinical findings and post mortem pathological outcomes across companion, livestock, and wildlife species• Molecular, biochemical, and cellular markers linking disease progression with post mortem interval estimation• Advanced imaging modalities (CT, MRI, ultrasound, infrared) for integrated clinicopathological and forensic interpretation• Experimental studies elucidating mechanisms of decomposition, tissue degradation, and biomarker transitions• Species specific frameworks for identifying decomposed, burned, or fragmented remains using combined clinical, pathological, genetic, and isotopic data• Environmental, nutritional, and therapeutic factors influencing post mortem transformations and diagnostic interpretation• Standardised protocols for ante mortem/post mortem data integration in veterinary research and field investigationsWe welcome original research articles, methods papers, reviews, brief research reports, and case reports. Topic editors: Frine Eleonora Scaglione, Urso Martín Dávila Montero, Sandro Mazzariol Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/76846/veterinary-forensic-pathology-new-directions-in-post-mortem-interval-and-animal-remains-identification