Probably involved in the diffusion of protonated ethanolamine (EA) into the cell at low pH. At low pH most EA is protonated, and this permease becomes necessary (Probable). Contributes to bacterial survival and replication in acidified macrophage vacuoles, but not to bacterial uptake by macrophages (PubMed:29531136). Expression of the eut operon allows this bacteria to use ethanolamine (EA) as a carbon, nitrogen and energy source. It relies on cobalamin (vitamin B12) both as a cofactor for the ethanolamine ammonia-lyase (EAL) activity and to induce the operon (PubMed:3045078). EA enhances bacterial survival in macrophages in a concentration-dependent manner, suggesting it is an important nutrient during infection (PubMed:29531136). Amine and polyamine degradation; ethanolamine degradation. Part of the 17-gene eut operon transcribed from a single promoter, induced by ethanolamine and adenosylcobalamin (AdoCbl, vitamin B12). Unable to grow with ethanolamine (EA) as sole carbon source. Slightly attenuated in a mouse model of infection (PubMed:7868611). A double eutG-eutH deletion is not impaired for aerobic growth on EA supplemented with cobalamin (vitamin B12) (PubMed:10464203). Cells are unable to grow on EA at low pH (PubMed:15466042). A non-polar deletion mutant does not grow on EA at pH 5.5 or pH 8.5, poorly at pH 6.0 but wild-type at pH 7.0 and pH 8.0, slight decrease in acetaldehyde release on EA plus vitamin B12 (PubMed:16585748). About 25% reduction in survival in mouse macrophage assays. Bacterial growth is not enhanced by exogenous EA in macrophage survival assays. Decreased survival in mouse intraperitoneal infection, no phenotype in mouse colitis infections (PubMed:29531136). Belongs to the EutH family.