Tests show Richard III infested with parasite

The body of the king, who ruled England from 1483-85, was discovered last year in Leicester, and scientists have since been undertaking careful analysis of the remains – already confirming the monarch suffered from the spinal condition scoliosis as well as revealing details of the battle wounds which caused his death.

A team examined soil samples taken from the pelvis and skull, revealing roundworm eggs in the pelvic area where the intestines would have been.

Roundworms infect people when they ingest their eggs via contaminated food or water. The eggs hatch and parasite migrates through the body, growing up to a foot long in the intestines.

Roundworm infection affects up to a quarter of all people, though it is rare in the UK today. But researchers found no evidence of other parasite infections common in medieval times.

Piers Mitchell, a specialist in parasite infestation at Cambridge University, who led the work, said: “We would expect nobles of this period to have eaten meats such as beef, pork and fish regularly, but there was no evidence for the eggs of the beef, pork or fish tapeworm. This may suggest that his food was cooked thoroughly, which would have prevented the transmission of these parasites.”

Jo Appleby, lecturer in human bioarchaeology at Leicester University, said: “Despite Richard’s noble background, it appears that his lifestyle did not completely protect him from intestinal parasite infection, which would have been very common at the time.”

Richard was killed at the battle of Bosworth Field, near Leicester, and his body was buried in the city. Descendants have launched legal action for his remains to be reburied in York Minster due to his strong Yorkshire links.

The research is published in The Lancet.