ABSTRACT Chylous ascites (CA) is a rare condition, and it can present as a peritoneal reaction named acute chylous peritonitis (ACP). We report the case of a 26-year old male who developed acute abdomen. He underwent surgery and turbid milky fluid was found in his abdominal cavity. A prophylactic appendectomy was performed, as well as aspiration and lavage of the abdominal cavity. Drainage tubes were placed. Studies of the fluid revealed increased triglyceride and amylase contents. Gram-staining and cultures were negative. A computed tomography scan revealed acute pancreatitis (Balthazar C), so a diagnosis of chylous ascites secondary to pancreatitis was confirmed. The patient did well, he received hydration, analgesics, and oral diet according to tolerance. Very few cases of ACP have been reported in the literature, and its association with acute pancreatitis is very unusual. This condition may resemble surgical acute abdomen, and its management includes surgical exploration with peritoneal drainage. Nutritional support may also be needed.

RESUMEN La ascitis quilosa (AQ) es una entidad rara, y puede manifestarse como una reacción peritoneal llamada peritonitis quilosa aguda (PQA). Presentamos el caso de un varón de 26 años, con cuadro abdominal agudo, por lo que es intervenido quirúrgicamente, encontrándose líquido lechoso turbio, en cavidad abdominal, realizándose una apendicectomía profiláctica, aspiración y lavado de cavidad, con colocación de drenajes. El análisis de líquido mostró aumento de triglicéridos y amilasa, gram y cultivos negativos; y la tomografía reveló una pancreatitis aguda (Baltazar C), todo ello confirmando el diagnóstico de AQ secundaria a pancreatitis. Paciente cursa con una evolución favorable con hidratación, analgésicos y dieta vía oral a tolerancia. En la literatura se han descrito muy pocos casos de PQA, y su asociación con pancreatitis aguda es bastante inusual. Pudiendo simular un cuadro abdominal agudo quirúrgico, cuyo tratamiento consiste en la exploración quirúrgica con drenaje peritoneal, pudiendo o no, requerir apoyo nutricional.

We investigated the effects of family selection on the growth rates of four genetic lines of Litopenaeus vannamei, the Pacific white shrimp, from Venezuela. The mean family weight at selection was 16.79 g and the mean growth rate was 0.169 g d-1 at a mean age of 138 days. The mean growth rates per generation were 0.141 g d-1 for the parental generation (P0), 0.173 g d-1 for the F1 and 0.191 g d-1 for the F2. Survival varied from 83.3% to 94.4%. There were statistically significant differences between lines, with lines B and C, growing at higher temperatures and lower salinities, showing the fastest growth. Regression analysis between growth rate and age for each genetic line showed high r² values, but smaller than those shown between growth rate and generation. The mean heritability (h²) estimated for growth rate was 0.25 ± 0.04, with line per generation values ranging from 0.18 to 0.38. The mean heritability for growth rate per line showed some variation but there was no correlation between heritability and growth rate. Females showed a greater gain in growth rate per generation than males due to their faster growth when they were older. This study shows the high potential of these L. vannamei populations for the future of shrimp culture in the Americas.