Abstract Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae , the causative agent of proliferative kidney disease (PKD), infects salmonids across Europe and North America, yet its occurrence in high-latitude environments remains poorly documented. We confirmed the first detection of T. bryosalmonae in wild salmonids from Greenland. Sampling in six rivers in the Nuup Kangerlua (Nuuk) fjord system, located in southwest Greenland yielded 80 Arctic char ( Salvelinus alpinus ) and five juvenile Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ). Quantitative PCR revealed the presence of T. bryosalmonae in four rivers, with prevalence ranging from 8.3% to 76.5%, with the highest infection levels recorded in the Kapisillit River, where all screened Atlantic salmon were infected. Sanger sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene showed 99.8% identity with European isolates, indicating that the local strain is genetically close to European lineages. No clinical PKD symptoms were observed, likely due to low summer water temperatures and the predominance of older fish sampled in this study. These findings extend T. bryosalmonae ’s northern range to one of the coldest regions where the parasite has been recorded, and indicate that suitable bryozoan hosts occur in local freshwater systems. Future Arctic climate warming may enhance parasite development and increase disease risk, posing potential threats to vulnerable salmonid populations. This study provides a critical baseline for understanding T. bryosalmonae distribution and potential emergence of PKD outbreaks in high-latitude regions.
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