Abstract
A wild rat (Rattus norvegicus) killed in the vicinity of a food store in which pathogen-free animal diet was stored, was found to be heavily infected with Capillaria hepatica and Hymenolepis diminuta. Sacks of diet from the store were found to be contaminated with rodent faeces containing eggs of these parasites. The possibility of Capillaria hepatica eggs infecting animals within a specified-pathogen-free or minimum disease unit and the likelihood of detecting such an infection are discussed. Recommendations are made which would reduce the risk of pathogenic organisms entering an animal unit with the diet.