The global shift toward reduced antibiotic use in livestock production is changing how intestinal health is managed in modern farming systems. As antibiotic growth promoters are phased out, producers must control enteric pathogens while maintaining productivity and animal welfare.

One of the most important pathogens in poultry production is Clostridium perfringens, the primary causative agent of necrotic enteritis, a disease responsible for significant economic losses worldwide.

VemoZyme® Alternase+ is a feed additive developed to support intestinal health and help control harmful bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.

Clostridium perfringens and Necrotic Enteritis

The importance of controlling Clostridium perfringens in poultry production is well established. Studies indicate that 75–95% of broiler chickens harbor this bacterium in their intestinal tract.

Under normal conditions, C. perfringens can exist as part of the intestinal microbiota. However, when intestinal balance is disrupted – due to dietary changes, coccidiosis, or intestinal damage the bacterium can proliferate rapidly. This proliferation may lead to toxin production and the development of necrotic enteritis.

Effective management of C. perfringens is therefore an important component of maintaining intestinal health and production performance in poultry systems.

Mechanism of Action: Muramidase Activity

The activity of VemoZyme® Alternase+ is associated with its highly active muramidase enzyme. Muramidase acts directly on the peptidoglycan matrix of bacterial cell walls.

Specifically, the enzyme hydrolyzes β-1,4-glycosidic bonds within peptidoglycan. This process disrupts the structural integrity of the bacterial cell wall, increases membrane permeability, and may ultimately lead to bacterial cell lysis.

This mechanism is particularly relevant for Gram-positive bacteria, including Clostridium perfringens, which possess thick peptidoglycan layers in their cell walls.

Research Evidence: In Vitro Antibacterial Activity

Recent in vitro research has evaluated the antibacterial activity of VemoZyme® Alternase+ against Clostridium perfringens.

In laboratory experiments using the reference strain Clostridium perfringens ATCC 13124, antimicrobial activity was assessed using both suspension assays and agar-based methods. Under intestinal-like conditions (pH 6.5), VemoZyme® Alternase+ significantly reduced bacterial viability.

Antimicrobial activity was observed across all tested pH conditions. The strongest effect occurred at pH 6.5, which corresponds to the typical environment of the small intestine, where the product is expected to act in vivo.

Even at pH 4, VemoZyme® Alternase+ reduced bacterial viability by more than 50%, indicating functional stability across gastrointestinal conditions.

Practical Relevance for Animal Production

By reducing the viability of Clostridium perfringens, VemoZyme® Alternase+ may contribute to strategies aimed at controlling this pathogen in poultry production.

In addition to pathogen control, muramidase activity may influence intestinal functionality. The degradation of bacterial cell wall components can generate biologically active molecules that interact with immune signaling pathways and support host defense mechanisms.

At the same time, reducing the accumulation of bacterial cell wall fragments may help alleviate intestinal inflammation and support improved nutrient utilization.

Several studies investigating muramidase-based feed additives, including in vivo studies in broiler chickens, have reported improvements in:

• gut microbiota composition
• feed digestibility
• gastrointestinal functionality
• growth performance

Conclusion

Maintaining intestinal health is essential for sustainable livestock production, particularly in production systems with reduced antibiotic use.

Evidence from laboratory studies indicates that muramidase-containing feed additives such as VemoZyme® Alternase+ can reduce the viability of Clostridium perfringens and may support intestinal functionality.

Together with findings from research on muramidase supplementation in poultry diets, these results suggest that such enzymatic approaches may contribute to strategies aimed at maintaining gut health and production efficiency in modern poultry systems.

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