04/07/2025
..🪱 WORM HYPOBIOSIS – TRADITION MEETS SCIENCE 🌧️
Diagnosis by Dr. Kibaria & Dr. Olum
Fam, a good client sent us the above after slaughtering a sheep, worried.The picture showing hypobiosis – a survival tactic used by worms inside animals, especially sheep and goats. These worms go into a "sleep mode" or hibernation inside the body to survive harsh conditions like drought or after deworming (anthelmintics). When the rains come, they "wake up" and explode in number – leading to sudden disease, diarrhea, weight loss, bottle jaw, and even death if not treated early.
💡 Maasai Wisdom Meets Vet Medicine
The Maasai elders are sharp observers of nature. For generations, they’d open up an animal’s intestines and see small "white dots" or cysts – they’d say, “Ng’ombe imebeba mvua” (the cow carries rain). That was their forecast for upcoming rains.
👉 Those “dots” are actually encysted worm larvae (hypobiotic larvae). When conditions improve (moisture, warmth), they awaken and multiply.
📌 So What Does This Mean for You?
Timing is key – Always deworm just before the rains and again shortly after.
Use the right dewormer – Talk to us for advice on the best one for your area.
Don’t ignore tradition – The old men were right. Science is just catching up with the wisdom of the land.
Manage pastures – Rotate grazing, avoid overgrazing to break worm cycles.
📷 We’ve seen this on several farms in Namanga and Kajiado. Let’s work together to prevent losses.
For help or questions,
📞 Royal Crest Vet Clinic – Serving Farmers Nationwide
0722 142 565
📍Kitengela – Kajiado – Nairobi
