Which pathogen is specifically linked to typhoid fever?

Typhoid fever is specifically caused by the bacterium Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi, which is a distinct strain of the Salmonella species. This pathogen is primarily transmitted through contaminated food and water, leading to severe systemic infection characterized by high fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, and malaise.

In contrast, the other pathogens listed are associated with different diseases. Shigella is primarily linked to shigellosis, which causes bacillary dysentery. Escherichia coli refers to a wide range of strains, some of which can cause gastroenteritis, but none directly cause typhoid fever. Vibrio cholerae is known for causing cholera, a disease characterized by severe watery diarrhea and dehydration. Each of these pathogens has its own specific transmission routes, symptomatology, and epidemiology, distinguishing them from Salmonella Typhi, the sole causative agent of typhoid fever.