BackgroundEpidemiology has contributed in many ways to identifying various risk factors for disease and to promoting population health. However, there is a continuing debate about the ability of epidemiology not only to describe, but also to provide results which can be better translated into public health practice. It has been proposed that participatory research approaches be applied to epidemiology as a way to bridge this gap between description and action. A systematic account of what constitutes participatory epidemiology practice has, however, been lacking.MethodsA scoping review was carried out focused on the question of what constitutes participatory approaches to epidemiology for the purpose of demonstrating their potential for advancing epidemiologic research. Relevant databases were searched, including both the published and non-published (grey) literature. The 102 identified sources were analyzed in terms of comparing common epidemiologic approaches to participatory counterparts regarding central aspects of the research process. Exemplary studies applying participatory approaches were examined more closely.ResultsA highly diverse, interdisciplinary body of literature was synthesized, resulting in a framework comprised of seven aspects of the research process: research goal, research question, population, context, data synthesis, research management, and dissemination of findings. The framework specifies how participatory approaches not only differ from, but also how they can enhance common approaches in epidemiology. Finally, recommendations for the further development of participatory approaches are given. These include: enhancing data collection, data analysis, and data validation; advancing capacity building for research at the local level; and developing data synthesis.ConclusionThe proposed framework provides a basis for systematically developing the emergent science of participatory epidemiology.

Zusammenfassung Ziel Ansätze der Partizipativen Gesundheitsforschung (PGF) sind in Deutschland in der Entwicklung. In dieser Arbeit werden geeignete Förderstrategien für die Umsetzung von Projekten der PGF in Deutschland aufgezeigt. Methode Es werden 9 Strategien vorgestellt und diskutiert, die auf der Grundlage von Forschungserfahrungen von Mitgliedern der deutschsprachigen und internationalen Netzwerke für PGF erarbeitet wurden. Ergebnisse Um PGF in Deutschland zu fördern, müssen 1) Mittel für Partizipation und 2) für die Beteiligungsprozesse selbst zur Verfügung stehen; 3) in Ausschreibungen die Aufforderung zur Partizipation grundsätzlich und 4) in speziellen Programmen auch als Förderbedingung verankert werden; 5) Partizipation formativ evaluiert, 6) die Methodenentwicklung in diesem Feld spezifisch gefördert und 7) die Gutachtenprozesse angepasst werden; 8) projektübergreifende Koordinationsstellen eingerichtet und 9) Modelle und Beispiele für Partizipation verbreitet werden. Schlussfolgerungen Soll nicht nur instrumentelle, symbolische oder Schein-Beteiligung erreicht werden, ist es notwendig, die Förderbedingungen für PGF in Deutschland anzupassen.

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Simian immunodeficiency viruses have been isolated from African green monkeys originating from Ethiopia. A molecular clone, termed SIVagm3, was found to be highly divergent from SIVagmTYO-l in terms of its restriction map and partial nucleotide sequence. A premature stop codon present in the transmembrane protein of SIVagm TYO-l was absent in SIVagm3. SIVagm3 was biologically active in vitro and in vivo and displayed characteristics reminiscent of the wild-type virus. Biological activity was demonstrated by seroconversion of juvenile African green monkeys and Macaca nemestrina after inoculation. In contrast to antibody reactivity mainly directed against env proteins in naturally infected African green monkeys. African green monkeys and M. nemestrina infected with the cloned virus showed antibody reactivity directed against all major proteins as demonstrated by immunoblot analysis. The availability of a biologically fully competent molecular clone of SIVagm allows us now to address various pertinent questions in an animal model system which should help to understand features of human immunodeficiency virus infection in human beings.

We have examined the viral load in the peripheral blood of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected African green monkeys with a view to the unexplained apathogenicity of African green monkey SIV (SIVagm) in its natural host. By using polymerase chain reaction, viral DNA was detected in fresh peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of each of nine seropositive animals. The virus DNA load was variable among the monkeys tested, ranging from 5 to 50 (mean = 15) copies per 105 PBMC, which is comparable to that of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in humans. The level of infectious SIVagm in PBMC was measured by endpoint dilution cultures. SIV W. was recovered from PBMC from 14 of 17 antibody-positive monkeys (82%), and the mean SIVga titer in PBMC of seropositive African green monkeys was 10 tissue culture infectious doses per 106 cells, similar to the titer shown for HIV in asymptomatic carriers. Free infectious virus was isolated from the plasma of 4 of 17 monkeys (24%), and SIVag expression in peripheral blood in vivo, as demonstrated by in situ hybridization, was detectable only in those animals which were viremic.