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Purpose In this study, we aimed to determine the regenerative and antimicrobial impact of the electrospun nanofiber mats, with/without silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), on full-thickness skin wounds in rabbits. Methods Polyvinyl alcohol was combined with gelatin to provide biocompatible electrospun binary nanofiber mats. AgNPs were added to the polyvinyl alcohol/gelatin mixture to obtain ternary nanofiber-AgNPs mats. Binary and ternary nanofiber mats were characterized by scanning electron microscopy before being applied as wound dressings in vivo. Subsequently, wound healing was evaluated. Results Both nanofiber/nanofiber-AgNPs mats improved the microscopic quality of the healed skin, albeit without obvious acceleration of the healing rate. As well, both types of nanofiber mats were able to combat microbial invasion into the wound bed. Conclusions Both binary polyvinyl alcohol/gelatin and ternary polyvinyl alcohol/gelatin/AgNPs nanofiber mats developed in the present study depicted similar regenerative and antimicrobial potential when applied as full-thickness wound dressing. However, in comparison to the binary nanofiber mats, no obvious synergistic effect was observed after loading nanofibers with AgNPs.

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Pythiosis is reported to be one of the most life-threatening infections of people and animals in tropical, subtropical and temperate areas worldwide. Infection can result from ingesting zoospores of Pythium insidiosum organism or from contact with water contaminated with zoospores. The ingestion of zoospores may result in enteric pythiosis, whereas cutaneous contact with zoospores/oomycete may result in cutaneous pythiosis. Here, we reported the clinical details of 10 horses with pythiosis introduced to our clinic. These horses were treated by excision of the lesion and application of an antifungal cream to the resulting wound. Also, we performed a meta-analysis of 214 horses, of 18 reports, affected with cutaneous pythiosis and analysed the influence of the horse's sex, age, lesion site, and treatment on outcome. Treatment of horses in these 18 reports varied from surgical excision, topical, regional or systemic administration of an antifungal drug, immunization, or a combination of treatments. Horses with the most successful outcome were those treated by excision of the lesionc oupled with systemic or topical administration of an antifungal drug. Horses treated by immunization responded the poorest.