The gut and its gut-associated lymphoid tissue serve as a preferential site for HIV1 entry, active viral replication, reservoir,
and HIV-mediated CD4 cell apoptosis. The widespread use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has resulted in a
significant decrease in the incidence of opportunistic enteric pathogens as a consequence of immune recovery. Nonetheless,
patients with advanced HIV1 disease who were recently diagnosed or have poor response to HAART can still suffer from opportunistic
infections with pathogens such as Cryptosporidium, microsporidia, Isospora belli, Cyclospora cayetanensis, Mycobacterium avium
complex, and cytomegalovirus, among others. This review describes the impact of HIV1 infection on gut immune function, the
salient features of the most common opportunistic enteric pathogens and HIV-associated enteropathy, and the effects of immune
reconstitution after introduction of HAART.