This organism is rather unusual among the Enterobacteriaceae. It does not survive well when stored in conventional ways, and its flagella are positioned as either polar, subpolar, or lateral. This small Gram negative rod is more active at 25 C than at 35-37 C, with motility and most biochemical test results more likely positive at the lower temperature. Gas is not produced. All isolates have come from human respiratory clinical specimens (mainly sputum) or blood, and it is likely an infrequent opportunistic pathogen. It also has been cultured from beef and pineapple.