Richard III suffered from roundworm infection: Study

In a study published online Wednesday in Lancet,experts say that suggests the eggs near the skeletons pelvis were from an infection during the kings life.

Richard probably had more than enough food that he could share with his worms, said Piers Mitchell,one of the researchers. Mitchell said it was the first time any English monarch had been shown to have been infected with worms.

Still,the deposed king would have suffered some symptoms of worm infection,which typically occurs after someone eats the eggs in contaminated food. As the worms migrate through the body,they can cause a cough and an unpleasant feeling as the worm is swallowed, Mitchell said.

He said the kings doctors wouldnt have linked those symptoms to the worms and probably would have prescribed treatments including bloodletting.