SUMMARY A new method for the serological grouping of streptococci by coagglutination with specific antibodies adsorbed to protein A-containing staphylococci has been assessed. A total of 242 strains of streptococci, including ,-haemolytic streptococci of groups A, B, C, F, and G, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Strep. faecalis were studied. All streptococci of groups A, B, C, and G, groupable by standard methods, were correctly grouped by coagglutination, although 7-3 % showed varying degrees of cross-agglutination. Two ,B-haemolytic strains of Strep. faecalis produced coagglutination with group C streptococcal reagent. The method appears to be quick, accurate, reproducible, and simple to perform.

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Amoebic infection in two male homosexuals is described. The possibility that this infection was acquired through homosexual practices and the implications to clinical and diagnostic services is discussed. Amoebiasis is an uncommon disease in Britain. An estimated 200 new cases of amoebiasis occur annually in England and Wales.1 The disease may be fatal if misdiagnosed or inappropriately treated.2 Most infections are acquired in an endemic area, although occasionally infection has been reported in persons who have never been abroad.3 More recently, several reports from the United States, and from New York in particular, have suggested that protozoal bowel infections including E. histolytica are common among the sexually active homosexual population.4-8 We report two cases of amoebic infection occurring in homosexual males which were probably sexually acquired in England.

Chickenpox (varicella), a common and usually mild infection of childhood, is frequently more serious in adults. The principal complication of adult varicella is pneumonia which may be fatal in a fifth of cases.' We describe two patients with rapidly fulminating varicella pneumonia who responded to vidarabine therapy. Case reports CASE ONE A 34-year-old teacher, previously in good health, was admitted with rapidly progressive shortness of breath complicating varicella. He first became unwell four days before admission with fever, sweats, and anorexia. The varicella eruption appeared the next day and spread rapidly to cover his body and face. Two days before admission he developed severe, dull central chest pain, a dry cough, and increasing dyspnoea. His two daughters, aged 3 and 5 years, had had varicella, six and three weeks previously. On examination he looked ill and was covered with the lesions of haemorrhagic varicella. His temperature was 39 2°C, pulse 110 beats/minute, blood pressure normal, respiratory rate 30/minute, and he was

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